Lack of tanneries holds Afghans back
26/10/2012
Skins are salted and transported over the border to Pakistan, where they are processed and then brought back, which means the Afghans are losing tens of millions of dollars in export revenues and tax receipts, said the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR).
About 60 million skins are transported to Pakistan every year, including tightly-curled lambskins which are popular for making carpets.
IWRP reported that officials have promised to look into the situation, but admit it may take some time to change. "We are looking at promoting the domestic leather industry and curbing exports of the raw product in coming years, with some assistance from donor countries. We are aligned with the skin traders on this matter, and we will help them," said Anwarolhaq Ahadi, Afghanistan’s minister of commerce and industry.
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