06122014 Amer Parent Company in India Plays Host to Delegation from Afghanistan

ATLANTA –A 15-member delegation of weavers from Afghanistan met recently with representatives from Amer Rugs and its parent company, Saraswati Global Private, Ltd.,  during a recent study tour to measure the feasibility of migrating Indian rug weaving techniques into the existing Afghan weaving framework.

The meeting between Indian and Afghan weavers was part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Afghanistan Investment and Reconstruction Task Force (AIRTF).

When asked how he felt the meeting went, Tanuj Gupta, president of Amer, replied “Amazing.”

The meeting was conducted as part of the AIRTF to bolster rug production in Afghanistan, especially since rug production in that country has seen a decline of nearly 80% since the U.S. military drawdown began in 2007.

 In addition to Gupta, who hosted the delegation at Saraswati’s home offices in Jaipur, Rob Leahy, Subject Matter Expert for the U.S. Department of Commerce, and  owner of Fine Rugs of Charleston, Charleston, SC,  was among the attendees during the three-day tour of Saraswati’s facilities.

 Leahy has also been instrumental in advocating for not only this meeting, but for assisting the Afghan people in reconstructing and growing their economy through the woven arts. To that end, Leahy has worked with leaders in the Afghan weaving community to establish the Afghan Carpet Center of Excellence (ACCOE).

 â€œThe central goal is to find areas where a national approach would create synergy in dealing with shipping companies, finance companies, and with their own government, ”  Leahy writes in his blog.

Both Gupta and Leahy share a similar vision in educating, assisting, and empowering the Afghan weaving community as a path to improving its faltering national economy.

The delegation visited every major facility within Saraswati’s production process. Of note to the delegation was Saraswati’s dyeing facility, which was larger in scale than those found in Afghanistan.

 However, the delegation was most impressed with Saraswati’s finishing facilities, especially considering that Afghanistan has little effective domestic shearing, washing, and rug finishing. 90% of Afghan rugs are currently sent to Pakistan or Turkey for finishing, according to Leahy.

Gupta said that discussions were already in the works for another meeting, and that the knowledge that the Afghan delegation acquired could be put to immediate use once back in their home country. Both Gupta and Leahy considered this first step in collaboration a  success.

Amer Rugs and Saraswati Global Private, Ltd. fully supports the AIRTF and the ACCOE. Few times does the possibility exist to grow social and economic relations among three independent countries through the woven art. And, as a key manufacturer/exporter of handmade carpets to the United States, both Saraswati and Amer are confident that a collaborative effort will have tremendous long-term benefits for all, especially the livelihood of Afghanistan’s underdeveloped rug industry, according to Gupta..

Amer is guided by the husband-wife team  of Tanuj and Monika Gupta. The company has won several design and communications awards.

Delegation received a warm welcome  at Saraswati Global Private, Ltd., parent company of Amer.

Zinab Tavakkoli of Afghanistan with Tanuj Gupta,
 president  of Amer.

 

·     6.6.13.14