Two-Day Women’s Products Exhibition Held in Kabul

A two-day exhibition showcasing women’s products and handicrafts was held in Kabul, organized by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The event aimed to promote the work of female entrepreneurs and provide marketing opportunities for their products.

At the exhibition, businesswomen presented a variety of goods across nearly 70 booths, including food items, traditional Afghan clothing, paintings, and jewelry. Some vendors said the event enabled the public to directly engage with their products.

However, several female entrepreneurs highlighted ongoing structural challenges, such as the lack of dedicated markets for women, shortages of raw materials, and difficulties in obtaining business licenses. One vendor noted that acquiring a license is not easy for women, often requiring them to navigate a complex and exhausting process involving various government ministries and private institutions.

Officials from the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated that the goal of the exhibition was to support female entrepreneurs, create market opportunities, and better introduce their products to both local and international markets. Fariba Nouri, the chamber’s executive director, said the exhibition was designed to present women’s products in an organized way to both Afghan citizens and foreign visitors.

The exhibition took place against the backdrop of severe restrictions, declining job opportunities, and economic pressures faced by female entrepreneurs under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Critics argue that without clear supportive policies and equal access to markets and licensing for women, such initiatives, while important, cannot substitute for sustained and structural support.