Contrabandists of Shoes Making Sky-High Profits

IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – Head of Handmade Shoemakers Union of Iran has called for full imposition of ban on imports of shoes and also combatting with smuggling of shoes into the country.

Speaking to ILNA, Rasool Shajari said that imports of some low quality shoes have inflicted damages on the national economy and domestic shoe production and the government should impose ban on importing any kind of shoes.

He admitted that usually shoemakers are inactive and in limbo during April and June but this year they have faced another problem and because of the outbreak of the Coronavirus, they lost their best times of sales and productions in March and April.

On the imports of shoes, he said because of the devaluation of the national currency, imports of shoes are not economical and the government slapped ban on imports in order to boost domestic production. He noted that till the end of the last Iranian calendar year, only imports of some certain kinds of shoes like sports shoes with certain brands were allowed.

Shajari added that this license was an opportunity for imports of some low quality shoes and it inflicted damages on the economy and domestic production, and for this reason the union has called for slapping bans on imports of any kinds of shoes.

He added that the imports of sports shoes had been issued for only free trade zones while they are taken into Tehran and big cities.

Shajari added that because of the ban, the domestic shoe sales enjoyed growth but by issuing this license for imports of shoes in the free trade zones, the domestic shoes production lost the market and it created opportunity for profiteers.

He reiterated that Iranian shoes can compete with their foreign-made likes, adding that Iranian shoemakers can make any kind of shoes for skiing, tennis, football or any other sports based on the domestic demands.

Shajari claimed that some of the domestic shoes productions are so high quality that they are labeled with foreign brands and sold.

He reiterated that if the ground and raw material is prepared, Iran can make some 400m pairs of shoes annually and today because of country’s focus on non-oil exports, it is a necessity for the government to pay more attention to the domestic shoemakers.

He further said that Iran is one of the best shoe leather producers in the world but lack of proper promotion and lack of self-confidence in the domestic production has paved the way for foreign brands to be welcomed in the domestic market. He also criticized the media for promoting foreign brands.

He pointed to the international exhibition EMPEX 2019 which was in Tehran and welcomed Italian guests, adding that although Italians are of the best shoes producers in the world, they took Iranian shoes as souvenirs.

He also pointed to the sky-high profits which are made by smugglers of shoes, adding that all should work to save the domestic shoemaking industry.