Afghanistan Spends 16 Billion Afs Annually to Import Shoes

Afghan Embroidered Boots Union (AEBU) says Afghanistan spends 16 billion Afghani annually to import shoes from foreign countries.

Currently about 450 shoes factories are operating in the country, but lack of electricity and lack of government support have faced some problem to this industry in the county.

“Currently, there are about 450 shoes factories in the country, if the government support us we can produce Afghanistan’s requirements,” Mohammad Asif, head of AEBU said.

Officials in the union say they have the capability to produce the requirements of Afghans, but they need the required support to produce high quality products.

“We have no electricity, the government is not supporting us, we don’t have market to sale our products, Afghan made shoes is more qualified than Pakistani and Chinese,” Mohammad Zaher a shoes maker said.

At the same time officials in the Afghanistan’s Investment Support Agency (AISA) say they are trying to find market for Afghan products inside and outside the country.

“We have to take care of their problems as soon as possible,” Qurban Haqjo head of AISA emphasized.

This issue comes as most industries in Afghanistan face with challenges and the government has failed to support them during the last 14 years.