The Chamber of Craftsmen and Shopkeepers said that due to the political change and COVID-19 in the country, more than forty percent of the craftspeople's work has stopped.

At a meeting held in Kabul to address the challenges and invite suggestions to solve the problems of craftsmen and businessmen in Afghanistan, the head of the chamber said that there were already more than one million craftsmen in the country, which provided jobs for five million people.

“It is necessary for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to take important steps in order to develop its activities toward preventing poverty and unemployment, and to expand the field of activity of its entrepreneurs and create job opportunities,” said Noorulhaq Omari, head of the Afghan Chamber of Crafts and Shopkeepers.

“The Ministry of Economy is a member of the Economic Commission, you can collect your problems, make suggestions, we will discuss it in the Economic Commission and find a solution for it,” said Qari Din Mohammad Hanif, Minister of Economy.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate said they are trying to create job opportunities for the development of the economy in the country.

“The Islamic Emirate is trying to develop the economy in the country so that our entrepreneurs can thrive, which is a principle for the prosperity and development of the country,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesman of the Islamic Emirate.

“The goal is that our people should not be divided on the basis of ethnicity or prejudice, and our focus should be on a secure and peaceful economy," said Shaikh Mohammad Khaled Hanafi, the acting Minister of Virtue and Vice.

An exhibition of handicrafts was held on the sidelines of this conference, which, according to officials, will continue for the next three days.