Ailing shoemaking firms warn of protest

KABUL): The Association of Shoemaking Companies on Sunday warned the government of a series of protests if their demand for reviving the industry was ignored.

Mohammad Asif Jamee, head of the Kabul-based association, told a news conference that there were 2,000 such companies in the country 11years ago.

But the number has dropped to 200 due to inadequate of attention from the government to leather and shoe firms. He called for imposing high taxes on imports of low-quality shoes from China and Pakistan.

“The government should determine a particular sale point in Kabul for domestically-produced shoes,” Jamee said, seeking incentives for the factories, including low-interest loans.

If the government did not announce a package of incentives within a month for the ailing shoemaking factories, they would launch a protest movement, he warned.

Abdullah Behroz, head of the Kabul Artisans Council, voiced his concern at the shoe factories’ situation. He asked the government to award police and army footwear contracts to the ailing units. 

ml/mud

Visits: 9