Dozens of female entrepreneurs are taking part in an expo in the western city of Herat that has been organized for them to promote their small and medium-sized businesses.
The expo will be held for the next 10 days and, according to the organizers, there are 45 stalls – all run by women.
Organizers also said the expo was planned for this month, as it celebrates Eid al-Fitr, which is expected to start on April 21.
“The chamber of commerce and industry in the west zone covers women’s investment in the western provinces, but so far, all participants at our exhibitions have been women from Herat,” said Behnaz Saljuqi, the deputy head of the women’s chamber of commerce and industry in the west zone.
“We are planning to invite women investors from Badghis, Farah and Ghor provinces in the future,” she added.
Participants said that they see the expo as a good opportunity to promote their businesses and that despite many restrictions on women by the Taliban, they are making efforts to improve their businesses.
“This exhibition is held to support women investors and promote their products,” said Rahila, one stallholder.
“We have not had a good start in terms of our sales but we hope that we will have more customers after the exhibition ends,” said Mahtab Ahmadi, another stallholder.
Some visitors to the expo said that it is a good opportunity for women under the current circumstances, where they are banned from getting an education and from working.
“I am happy to see women here who have put on display their food products, dresses and fashion and so on. I see it as a good opportunity for them to improve the market for their products,” said Gulsum, a Herat resident.
“It is a good market and I see quality products here. I hope women are further supported,” said Frozan, another Herat resident.
Herat, Badghis, Ghor and Farah are western provinces where women entrepreneurs are more prevalent than in other parts of the country. However, many of them say that business has dropped off considerably for them in the past 19 months.
