Officials at the chamber of industry and mines said that more than 100 factories have halted their operations due to economic challenges within past two months in the western province of Herat.
Officials said that economic challenges, shortage of raw materials and lack of proper sale market are the main reasons for reduction in operations of Herat industrial companies.
Local officials in Herat said that they have increased tariffs on imported goods to layout a good market for domestic products.
Experts warned that if the problems laid ahead of the investors and business owners were not solved immediately, an economic crisis would come into effect.
The private sector in Herat said that reduction of corruption in customs and ensuring of proper security on highways triggered a new wave of hope among investors to continue their businesses.
Meanwhile, in a meeting with the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi, the ambassador of China, Wang Yu, expressed China’s readiness to facilitate visas for Afghan businesspeople in Afghanistan, MoFA announced
Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Muttaqi urged Beijing to address the problems of the Afghan traders in issuing visas.
Following the outbreak of Covid-19 and political changes in Afghanistan, China stopped issuing visas for Afghan traders.
“The two sides agreed to accelerate the transportation of pine nuts,” he said.
“Lack of visas is a big and serious problem for businessmen and the private sector, especially with China because we import goods as well as raw materials for our factories,” said Khairullah Khairkhwa, the head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI).
The ACCI said that Afghanistan is the only country in the region whose traders lack access to China’s visas.
“Lack of visas is a big problem. We ordered a type of material but then received another material,” said Mohammad Younus, the acting head of ACCI.
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chamber of Industry and Mines said that Afghan industrial owners are facing many challenges in imports due to a lack of visas for China.
