The Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry held a women-only exhibition in Kabul, despite strict restrictions imposed by the Taliban on Afghan women’s social activities.
The two-day expo was held under the name of “Abreshum (Silk)” in Kabul, where as many as 220 businesswomen from across the country displayed their handmade products.
Fariba Noori, one of the organizers of this expo, said that the purpose of holding the women-only expo is to encourage “women to be self-sufficient and provide them with job opportunities as women need work and financial independence more than ever.”
Sahar Noori, an 18 year old girl who also participated in the exhibition, said that she graduated from high school, but could not continue her education after Afghanistan collapsed into the hands of the Taliban.
Noor showed home-made foods and sweets that she sells in order to cover her living expenses.
They get orders online and deliver food to their customers, she said.
Sahar said that she was happy to participate in an exhibition for the first time and share their homemade food with the people.
Shamshad Sahil, another facilitator of this exhibition, said that the expo was held with the cooperation of Mechanism-e-Sadai Mardom (mechanism for raising people’s voices) organization and the Afghan Women’s Chamber of Commerce to promote small businesses of Afghan women.
Meanwhile, a seminar on teaching methods for investing in small businesses was also provided for the participants so that they can boost their businesses.
Nouria Amiri, who brought hand-made carpets produced by Bamiyan’s women to the exhibition, said she had been waiting for months to participate in the exhibition.
Amiri added that women are deprived of social activities in many provinces of Afghanistan and fewer job opportunities have been provided for them.
This comes after the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan and then banned women and girls from getting education and working for non-government organizations.
