Feature: Afghan businesswomen encouraged as women's chamber of commerce resets-Xinhua

Feature: Afghan businesswomen encouraged as women's chamber of commerce resets

Source: Xinhua| 2022-05-07 01:06:01|Editor: huaxia

KABUL, May 6 (Xinhua) -- "We have permission from the emirate to reopen the chamber of commerce and resume our activities. It is a matter of great pleasure for us," Roya Hafizi, acting head of the Afghan Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Xinhua.

Expressing happiness over the achievement, the businesswoman said that reopening the chamber and resuming activities would bolster the businesspersons to increase their products.

Hafizi said the chamber's resumed activities would be good for everyone doing business in the country. "The chamber has reopened after nine months following efforts and knocking on doors at the Ministry for Commerce and Industry," she said at an exhibition in Kabul.

The five-day exhibition led by the chamber showcased the work of 70 female entrepreneurs, including confectionery, dairy products, handicrafts, household goods and traditional clothing.

"I am sure the world community has not paid serious attention toward us since the U.S. forces' withdrawal from Afghanistan, and we have lost what we have achieved over the past 20 years," said 27-year-old businesswoman Rahela.

Businesswoman Nawrozi Safi lamented, "Economic problem means that in the past, 200 women worked for my company and nowadays I have less than 100."

Afghanistan' entrepreneurs face the same problems of skyrocketing prices of raw materials and a broken supply chain as everywhere else, but Hafizi is troubled by continuing restrictions to the banking system that undermined the women-run businesses.

In the wake of the U.S. forces' defeat in August 2021, the chamber was suspended, leaving countless women jobless. With the reopening of the body, thousands of women can resume work, and put their products on display.

A total of 800 businesspersons have been registered with the chamber of commerce, while 54,500 women are involved directly and indirectly in women-run business activities, according to officials.

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