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Naqibullah Saqib et al, Cognizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol.4, Issue.11, November 2024, pg. 427-435
(An Open Accessible, Multidisciplinary, Fully Refereed and Peer Reviewed Journal)
ISSN: 0976-7797
Impact Factor: 4.843
Index Copernicus Value (ICV) = 77.57

THE ROLE OF THE INDUSTRIES

IN THE ECONOMIC GROWTH
OF AFGHANISTAN
Naqibullah Saqib1; Ihsanullah Nasih2; Shamsul Islam Safi3
1
Professor of Law and Political Science Faculty, Nangrahar University, Afghanistan
2
Professor of Islamic Faculty, Nangrahar , University, Afghanistan
3
Professor of Law and Political Science Faculty, Nangrahar University, Afghanistan

DOI: 10.47760/cognizance.2024.v04i11.025

Abstract:
Afghanistan consumes some of these resources in its own country and meets its internal needs,
and some others have been exported to other countries, for example: carpets, which are one of
the main exports of Afghanistan. It contains 10% of the country's total exports, but after the
Second World War, it was exported to European markets by Afghan traders.
The main markets for the sale of Afghan carpets are the Arab countries, England, the United
States of America, Federal Germany, the former Soviet Union and the countries of India.
Afghanistan bought 8,122,000 cubic meters of carpets and rugs for 93 million dollars in 1980.
Federal Germany in the amount of 40 million dollars, Saudi Arabia in the amount of 17 million
dollars, England in the amount of 10 million dollars, and the former Soviet Union and
Switzerland in the amount of 8 million dollars are exported from Afghanistan. In total, 90% of
carpets are exported have been exported abroad, but in recent years their value has decreased in
the international markets, that is, in 1981, the value of 603 thousand square meters of carpets
decreased to 26000000 million dollars, but in 1364, the value of 2000 square meters of carpets
decreased. Its value has decreased to 25000000 million dollars

INTRODUCTION
Handicrafts are the first necessity for a country to fulfill its basic needs, that a country fulfills its
wishes and demands, such as economic, cultural and social needs, from its handicrafts and
handicrafts.
Handicrafts are a means of equalizing food and clothing for men, especially for a country that is
lagging behind in development. In the same way, we must say that our dear country,

©2024, Cognizance Journal, ZAIN Publications, Fridhemsgatan 62, 112 46, Stockholm, Sweden, All Rights Reserved 427
 cognizancejournal.com
Naqibullah Saqib et al, Cognizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol.4, Issue.11, November 2024, pg. 427-435
(An Open Accessible, Multidisciplinary, Fully Refereed and Peer Reviewed Journal)
ISSN: 0976-7797
Impact Factor: 4.843
Index Copernicus Value (ICV) = 77.57

Afghanistan, which is a backward country, is in great need of economic development, that is, it
has not developed much in the industry, and the products that are obtained from the industry are
from manual industry. In our dear country, this industry has been passed down from one
generation to another. Handicraft industry is considered very useful in our country as the raw
materials used in this sector are available inside Afghanistan. There are different types of
handicrafts in Afghanistan, we would like to mention some of them as below, but carpet making,
gold something, blacksmithing, embroidery, painting, calligraphy and so on.
Afghanistan consumes some of these resources in its own country and meets its internal needs,
and some others have been exported to other countries, for example: carpets, which are one of
the main exports of Afghanistan. It contains 10% of the country's total exports, but after the
Second World War, it was exported to European markets by Afghan traders.
The main markets for the sale of Afghan carpets are Arab countries, England, the United States
of America, Federal Germany, the former Soviet Union and the countries of India.
Today, London, Switzerland, Hamburg and Pakistan are the main markets for Afghan carpets, so
we should mention that in 1980, Afghanistan produced 8122 thousand cubic meters of carpets
and rugs for 93 million dollars, and Federal Germany bought them for 40 million dollars. Saudi
Arabia in the amount of 17 million dollars and England in the amount of 10 million dollars and
the former Soviet Union and Switzerland in the amount of 8 million dollars are exported from
Afghanistan. In 1981, the value of 603,000 square meters of carpets decreased to 260,000,000
million dollars, but in 1985, the value of 2000 square meters of carpets decreased. However, in
recent years, their value has decreased in the international markets, that is, in 1981, the value of
603,000 square meters of carpets has decreased to 2,600,000,000 million dollars, but in 1985,
2,000 square meters worth 2,500,000,000 million reduced to dollars.

OBJECTIVE OF RESEARCH
At the end of this article, the role of handicrafts in the economy of Afghanistan will be explained
as a percentage, as well as its positive impact on the Afghan society will be explained.

THE HYPOTHESIS OF RESEARCH

My belief is that the effect of handicrafts on the economy of Afghanistan is more than half. This
belief may be proven right or wrong in the last part of the article has a role.

QUESTIONS OF RESEARCH
1-What is the role of handicrafts in the growth of the Afghan economy?
2- How can we strengthen this role?
3- If this section is strengthened, what will be the impact on the society?

©2024, Cognizance Journal, ZAIN Publications, Fridhemsgatan 62, 112 46, Stockholm, Sweden, All Rights Reserved 428
 cognizancejournal.com
Naqibullah Saqib et al, Cognizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol.4, Issue.11, November 2024, pg. 427-435
(An Open Accessible, Multidisciplinary, Fully Refereed and Peer Reviewed Journal)
ISSN: 0976-7797
Impact Factor: 4.843
Index Copernicus Value (ICV) = 77.57

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This research is qualitative. The data is collected from secondary sources specifically from the
library of the university. The data was analyzed manually with an in-depth analysis technique.

INTRODUCTION HANDICRAFTS IN AFGHANISTAN

Before we start the main discussion about handicrafts in Afghanistan, it is necessary to explain
the definition of handicrafts and its specifics so that we can have a general idea of handicrafts in
our mind.
Handicrafts is one of the economic fields in which the production of goods and services is done
by a technical person who has special skills in using production equipment.
Some other scholars have defined the complete manual industries as individual enterprises that
depend on the skill and efficiency of the operator in the use of production equipment and work
tools. But we could not find such a comprehensive and precise or short definition, so we agree on
these two definitions above. In order to have a good idea about handicraft enterprises, here we
pay attention to some main specifications. (Amin, 2003).

THE ROLE OF HANDICRAFTS IN THE ECONOMY OF AFGHANISTAN

As we studied the history of these industries in Afghanistan, we saw that after the industrial
revolution in the 18th century, a number of countries in Europe took advantage of this revolution
one after the other and repeatedly built bridges in the cities of industry. He said that now each of
the countries is considered as one of the major industrial countries, in these countries, instead of
manual industries, mostly machine industries took place and the industrial revolution took a
national form, which is their technical and economic development. The reason is gone. (Safi,
2012).

THE ROLE OF HANDICRAFTS IN THE ECONOMY

Today, the products of their industrial enterprises have often occupied the world markets, but
unfortunately, when the industrial revolution was progressing in Europe and America, the British
invaded our country and cut off all our relations with the outside world. With these conspiracies,
wars started in every corner of our country.
Due to the above and ten other reasons, our country could not build bridges in the industrial
cities and we remained such a backward country. (Ahmad Jafar,2011).
If a number of industrial enterprises are active in our country, but when we compare the amount
of production of these enterprises with the general demand of our country, we know about our
backwardness. (Habibi ,2004).

©2024, Cognizance Journal, ZAIN Publications, Fridhemsgatan 62, 112 46, Stockholm, Sweden, All Rights Reserved 429
 cognizancejournal.com
Naqibullah Saqib et al, Cognizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol.4, Issue.11, November 2024, pg. 427-435
(An Open Accessible, Multidisciplinary, Fully Refereed and Peer Reviewed Journal)
ISSN: 0976-7797
Impact Factor: 4.843
Index Copernicus Value (ICV) = 77.57

Today, a large amount of people's needs is obtained from the production of handicrafts, the
ancient industries of our country, and in fact, handicrafts form a large economic wheel of the
country. Although there is no such statistic that shows us how many people are engaged in
handicrafts, but even if we think deeply, what tools are used in handicrafts such as carpet
weaving, Turkani, Kalali, Khabazi, tailoring, carpentry, textile, jewelry, shoemaking and more
than ten other types are engaged in activities throughout the country and on average, how many
people are employed in each machine, so it can be said that hundreds of thousands of men and
women are engaged in handicrafts. Who is employed and how to support themselves and their
families. (Anwar, 2015).
Therefore, it is known that handicrafts have a great and vital importance in the economy of the
country and its role can be estimated in the economy of the country. Foreign attention prevents
the country from being a source of foreign exchange. For example, millions of dollars are earned
by our country from the sale and export of carpets and rugs. It is done and the income from the
sale constitutes a good amount in the trade of our country. Taking into account the above
explanations, we can conclude that handicraft industries have a major and fundamental role in
the country's economy after agriculture, because in addition to that, they satisfy a large number
of needs of the country and a large number of people are engaged in work in the country. About
70 percent of the national income is obtained from the production of the country, and
accordingly, it is an important source of the country's currency. If any power can stop the
country's hand industries for a short period of time and stop their activity, it can be said that the
country's economy is completely paralyzed. (ISA,2008).

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF HANDICRAFTS

In the one hand, the level of production of sexual and service goods has fallen dramatically, and
on the other hand, hundreds of thousands of people remain unemployed and without income, so
these foreigners have the power and ability to paralyze the country's economy.
Also, the increase in industrial administration and industrial production is very important in the
economic development of the country and in the per capita income and growth. Industrialized
countries have increased their per capita income rapidly, so the industrialization of society
should go hand in hand with the development of cities. Industrial factories create jobs, increase
the production of the country and create migrations from villages to cities. A large number of
people migrate to big cities to get a good and prosperous life, where they can work in industrial
factories for a low salary. On the other hand, they can enjoy the facilities of life such as
transportation, electricity, drinking water, schools, madrassas and hospitals that are available in
the cities. (Omed,2018).

©2024, Cognizance Journal, ZAIN Publications, Fridhemsgatan 62, 112 46, Stockholm, Sweden, All Rights Reserved 430
 cognizancejournal.com
Naqibullah Saqib et al, Cognizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol.4, Issue.11, November 2024, pg. 427-435
(An Open Accessible, Multidisciplinary, Fully Refereed and Peer Reviewed Journal)
ISSN: 0976-7797
Impact Factor: 4.843
Index Copernicus Value (ICV) = 77.57

As has been experienced in many backward countries, the migration of people to cities causes a
series of problems such as: Overcrowding, environmental pollution and increasing crime bring
about other things. If the economic and social characteristics of developing countries are studied,
it will be concluded that handicrafts are the most important factor in the development of their
national economy. They have played a significant role in stopping. Because from the point of
view of the economy, after their growth, the governor himself indicates the development of the
industrial products of these countries, handicrafts that are generally prevalent in villages or
remote areas of cities. In the developed countries of the world, they are of extraordinary
importance, such as Japan and Germany, which are among the industrially developed countries
in the world. It is more compatible with personal and individual tastes, so it is better that the
villages develop in the same way as the cities. The industrial development of Afghanistan was
developed during the time of Amir Sher Ali Khan in the year 1876-1869 AD. (Nasrat ,2005).
In Afghanistan, the first industrial factories that have come into existence are: weapons
manufacturing factory, shoe sewing factory, and threshing factory, leather and textile factories
have been established, which have played a major role in the national economy of Afghanistan.
Daud Khan's government should make more efforts to expand the industrial sector, the big
industries are in the hands of the government and the private sector was in trouble in the
development of the country's industrial institutions. Despite the fact that there are more machine
products in the markets and they are available for less money, but still people are interested in
getting more benefits from handicrafts that are made by hand. In some places, the process of
handicrafts, such as weaving and shoemaking, has suffered a decline, but still in most countries
of the world, especially in developing countries, it has maintained its value and has not lost its
value. It is considered a good and interesting source of income for the villagers. (Alam, ,2002).
On the other hand, the role of manual industries and the process of training workers for large
industries is of great value and importance. Bringing handicrafts in the villages provides a way to
attract a number of people for work. In addition, problems are also encountered in the acquisition
of foreign mineral materials, because the said materials are provided by them and are consumed
in the villages, which in itself affects the effectiveness and role of domestic industries in the
national economy. Cause Capital is another point that increases the value of rural industries in
the national economy, and they are such that a large amount of capital and money is not required
for the production of domestic handicrafts and handicrafts, and the products of these industries
are comparable to imported goods. Can be strengthened by competition etc. Just as production
replaces imports, in the same way, the amount of capital that would have been lost in the past to
obtain imported goods from the total currency of the national economy can now be used for rural
industries and tools. It should be used in the field of financing, since the mechanical industry in
developing countries requires more investment and technical, strong and complete equipment or

©2024, Cognizance Journal, ZAIN Publications, Fridhemsgatan 62, 112 46, Stockholm, Sweden, All Rights Reserved 431
 cognizancejournal.com
Naqibullah Saqib et al, Cognizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol.4, Issue.11, November 2024, pg. 427-435
(An Open Accessible, Multidisciplinary, Fully Refereed and Peer Reviewed Journal)
ISSN: 0976-7797
Impact Factor: 4.843
Index Copernicus Value (ICV) = 77.57

tools for work, so they have problems in this area, therefore manual industries in the first phase,
the strengthening and strengthening of the industry is considered the first step in the sector. (
Hamza , 2017).
In the 1970s, Muhammad Daud Khan, the president at that time, created an incentive to expand
private industries in addition to government industries, and for this reason, the country's
investment law was approved, but unfortunately, after the 1978 Thor coup. This law was
repealed and all the private industries were declared national. In 1990, around 360 light industry
factories were operating in Kabul Industrial Park and 40,000 workers were employed. From 20
to 60 industrial factories are active in the cities of Herat, Kandahar, and Mazar-e-Sharif. Due to
the two years of war, the country's industries suffered heavy losses. Some of the remaining
industries have been closed for several years and are operating at a very low level.
(Habibi,2004).
Carpet weaving, gather weaving, rattan embroidery, silk work, khamak dozi and so on had a
great place with which women workers have played an interesting role in earning income and
improving the economy of the families and the development of the national economy. And with
this, the export of the government is more and more income is gained from this way and
strengthening the national economy because with the increase in the income of the domestic
man, the national economy of the country is also progressing and progressing backward and with
it the economic growth of the family. The situation is good and the work environment is also
favorable for him. (Tokhi, 2013).

REASONS FOR THE DECLINE OF HANDICRAFTS

We all know that a large number of handicraft industries in the country are in a very bad and bad
economic condition and some of them have faced collapse.
And in addition, we will study the ways of development of handicrafts and their possible
collapse.
1) There are a number of large industrial factories in the interior of the country, for example:
Textile factories, shoe factories, etc., which are important for the development of human society,
scientific and technical development, which are considered vital to the country, and which
benefit the national economy. It is true that the development of such industries in a country leads
to the collapse and extinction of the handicraft industries of that country, but the benefit that is
obtained from the machine industry is much more than the income that we used to get from the
handicraft industries. There is a lot and the income of the handicraft industry is a small income.
Regarding the interest of the machine industry, the machine industry is able to attract any people
or workers who are unemployed due to the collapse of the handicraft industry and engage them
in work.

©2024, Cognizance Journal, ZAIN Publications, Fridhemsgatan 62, 112 46, Stockholm, Sweden, All Rights Reserved 432
 cognizancejournal.com
Naqibullah Saqib et al, Cognizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol.4, Issue.11, November 2024, pg. 427-435
(An Open Accessible, Multidisciplinary, Fully Refereed and Peer Reviewed Journal)
ISSN: 0976-7797
Impact Factor: 4.843
Index Copernicus Value (ICV) = 77.57

This action is not harmful to the national economy, but it causes economic growth.
2) Importing a large amount of similar goods from abroad:
This issue is one of the main reasons for the collapse of handicrafts in the country, because the
goods that are imported into the country from abroad are very beautiful and of good quality and
are imported at a low price. Industries, including handicrafts, have been affected and are under
threat.
In this regard, by using various methods and tools, international markets such as Afghanistan are
under its influence, causing the development of industries (manual and machine) and creating the
ground for the collapse of industries.
3) The indifference of the government of the time is also the main reason for the deterioration of
handicrafts in the country, because the government can develop handicrafts in various ways and
prevent them from collapsing and disappearing. For example, by providing financial and
technical assistance, the creation of cooperatives for handicrafts, the imposition of protective
tariffs, the prevention of competition on similar imported goods for handicrafts that are smuggled
by institutions, the purchase of domestic and foreign markets for handicrafts. Improvement of
tools and equipment, giving economic and technical advice to industrialists can cause the
strengthening of handicraft industries and prevent their collapse, and can provide a ground for
encouraging industrialists. Give some subsidy
In order to strengthen and make these manual industries active, for example, they should give
subsidies to the shoe industry and strengthen it so that the production of shoes in the country
increases, so that a certain amount of foreign currency is prevented from escaping and so on. On
the other hand, a number of people are busy and getting income from these devices.
Similarly, handicrafts alone cannot find markets in remote areas, especially in foreign countries,
so it is the government's duty to hold exhibitions at home and abroad to introduce the country's
handicrafts and find a market for them.
Therefore, the government can promote handicrafts by using different methods.
4) Lack of competitive power:
As most of the country's handicrafts are in poor economic condition, and the owners of these
tools often receive the income from the sale of handicrafts, it is difficult to cover their living
expenses, and on the other hand, these industrialists often They do not have any education and
are illiterate, so they cannot change their production tools and equipment in such a way that it is
in accordance with the evolution of economic principles, therefore, their production goods are in
traditional form and the evolutions that The tastes and preferences of the customers such as
color, construction, design, etc. are not taken into consideration, so handicrafts cannot compete
with machine industries in the market. Every time the patriot capital or the government invests in
this way, it can be said that the handicraft industries of our country will develop immeasurably

©2024, Cognizance Journal, ZAIN Publications, Fridhemsgatan 62, 112 46, Stockholm, Sweden, All Rights Reserved 433
 cognizancejournal.com
Naqibullah Saqib et al, Cognizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol.4, Issue.11, November 2024, pg. 427-435
(An Open Accessible, Multidisciplinary, Fully Refereed and Peer Reviewed Journal)
ISSN: 0976-7797
Impact Factor: 4.843
Index Copernicus Value (ICV) = 77.57

and this way will be of immeasurable benefit to the investors and the country's economy.
Inventing does not require a lot of investment, but very little investment can make this business
work.
Thus, by creating cooperatives, we can give development to handicrafts and give them
competitive power.
Because the main goals of the cooperatives are to develop and strengthen the sense of connection
between the members and those who interact with each other and the economic situation,
therefore, the creation of cooperatives is considered one of the main ways to develop and
strengthen handicrafts.

CONCLUSION
Handicrafts have been popular in Afghanistan for a long time, but they have not been given the
opportunity to expand their products because the government has not given them as much
support as they should have. In order to encourage these workers to work and give them capital
as much as they need.
Therefore, since handicrafts play a major role in the national economy of Afghanistan, which
makes up to 8% of the country's exports, only carpets, so practical ideas should be broken in this
regard so that the people in the villages and districts can be helped in this field. Who can get the
first position and also work tirelessly in the field of handicrafts.
Therefore, so that the people of our country do not remain unemployed and make the most of
their precious time, I call the following suggestions necessary.

SUGGESTIONS:
1. Creating courses.
2. Technical specialists should be appointed by the relevant client to check the handicrafts after a
certain period. It is necessary to give them guidance in this regard.
3. Handicraft sales centers should be established in provincial centers and markets of foreign
countries within Afghanistan.
4. In order to encourage more handicraft industries, facilities should be considered in terms of
commercial concessions to facilitate the export of products and the import of raw materials.
5. In terms of internal and external markets, certain information programs for the price, design,
coloring and demand of goods should be taken under hand.
6. In accordance with the familiarity with the specifics of the markets, it is also possible to
provide an interesting way for the representatives of handicraft industries to work in foreign
countries.

©2024, Cognizance Journal, ZAIN Publications, Fridhemsgatan 62, 112 46, Stockholm, Sweden, All Rights Reserved 434
 cognizancejournal.com
Naqibullah Saqib et al, Cognizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol.4, Issue.11, November 2024, pg. 427-435
(An Open Accessible, Multidisciplinary, Fully Refereed and Peer Reviewed Journal)
ISSN: 0976-7797
Impact Factor: 4.843
Index Copernicus Value (ICV) = 77.57

7. Exhibitions and exhibitions can be organized in provincial centers and important places with
the approval of putting up handicraft exhibitions.
8. In order to encourage more industrial work, awards should be selected for good and interesting
products.

Author Contributions
Author’s full name1: Conceptualization, Resources
Naqibullah Saqib
Professor of Law and Political Science Faculty, Nangrahar
University, Afghanistan.

Author’s full name2: Data Curation, Methodology

Ihsanullah Nasih
Professor of Islamic Law Faculty, Nangrahar University, Afghanistan

Author’s full name3: Formal Analysis, Investigation

Shamsul Islam Safi
Professor of Law and Political Science Faculty, Nangrahar University, Afghanistan

E-mail: [email protected]
Cell No: +93785550005

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