A major local expo, “Global Silk Road”, has officially opened at the Loya Jirga Tent in Kabul, and boasts an impressive lineup of almost 400 stallholders. The expo aims to provide Afghan traders and investors with a platform to showcase their domestically produced goods.
Many exhibitors have meanwhile called on the Taliban’s caretaker government to stop the importation of similar goods that are of a lower quality. “We urge [the Taliban] to prevent the import of similar goods with low quality so as to extend an opportunity for local companies to provide their [locally produced] goods to the markets,” said Enaam Rahmani.
A number of Taliban government employees have also participated at the expo as booth holders.
“Events like these serve as a conduit to present our national produce. People become acquainted with the range of items the country is capable of generating, thus facilitating greater reliance on domestic goods,” said an employee of the Taliban’s railway department.
Seyed Javad Rezae, another exhibitor, stressed the need for holding such expos across Afghanistan to support local producers.
A number of women from Afghanistan are also showcasing their handicraft products at the expo.
These women not only emphasize the need for attention to be paid to domestically manufactured items and for women’s rights to education and employment.
“People should visit [the expo] and support domestic products. We have valuable products such as honey and saffron,” said Mawa Burahani, a businesswoman.
The event serves as a platform for women’s voices, with merchants like Sadaf Sakhi Zadeh underscoring the importance of women’s access to education and work. Zadeh said: “Enabling women to work and study is essential. This would create an environment where we can actively participate in buying and selling our handicrafts.”
“[The Taliban] must allow women to work and they must open schools for girls. Because this would create an environment where we can actively participate in buying and selling our handicrafts,” said Sadaf Sakhi Zada, an exhibitor.
In a country grappling with food shortages affecting nearly 29 million people, the Taliban have also reiterated the significance of such events.
