HERAT CITY ( SW) – Traders in western Herat province gathered to express concers regarding deteriorating state of affairs.
A number of Herat craftsmen and businessmen gathered in Herat today to protest against the increase in customs tariffs and the lack of raw materials in the province. They said that if their problems are not addressed, they will not be able to continue.
Haji Nader Bahadori, head of the Golestan Arghavan factory, which has just closed, said the reason for the closure was an increase in customs tariffs in the province. “Unless customs tariffs are reduced and the problems addressed, the traders can no longer continue their activities and meet the needs of the people,” he said.
Haji Nader was not the only one to complain about the increase in customs tariffs in Herat.
Sayyed Abdullah, another trader, said there is a great shortage of raw materials, because it comes from foreign countries. “Due to the monetary problems we have, we have encountered many problems that have caused a shortage in production nationwide. The problem for some is the increase in customs tariffs, which has increased for no reason”, he said.
On the other hand, Hamidullah Khadem, head of the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said that the increase in customs tariffs in the province had left dozens of trucks stranded at Herat customs and traders could not take the out.
Khadem added that they are trying to solve these problems so that the traders can start their work and business.
ENDS
