Afghanistan's first all locally-sourced shoe store opened in the capital on Monday. The shop was opened in collaboration between the National Association of Artisans Store (NAAS), New Markets Development Project (NMDP) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (DGIZ), an international development organization owned by the German government.
Motasil Komaki, the Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industries, said that more stores like it would be opened in other provinces, in an effort to help supper local industry and employment.
"Previously, the government never cared for artisans. Now, things are changing and the government has formulated new policies aimed at developing cottage industries. The government has helped by providing facilities to the furniture industry, metal industry and leather industry," said Mohammad Hassan Sapahi, the head of the NAAS.
The store was reportedly opened at a cost of around $40,000. All shoes sold will be made of leather.
NAAS officials urged the MoCI to work on opening similar stores in Jalalabad, Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat.