Dozens of Afghan businesswomen participated remotely in a fair in Dubai this week, promoting their products such as carpets, jewelry, dried fruits, and other handicrafts in an effort to reach international markets, as opportunities for women in Afghanistan have diminished under Taliban rule.
The fair started yesterday, Thursday, at a hotel in Dubai, lasting three days with support from the United Nations Development Programme, featuring 26 women-led companies. Due to visa and travel restrictions, most entrepreneurs joined via video link from the Afghan capital, where they stated that these restrictions hinder their businesses.
Rehana Karim from the Afghan Women’s Chamber of Commerce in Dubai confirmed that they are working on establishing a brand for their products, carrying the slogan "Made by Afghan Hands" to attract external consumers interested in supporting women’s rights. She told Reuters, "Final consumers in Europe, the United States, and the UAE want to support Afghan women, and we need to give them the opportunity." She added, "You support an Afghan woman when you buy a high-quality product, enabling her to stand on her own feet, achieve financial independence, and start getting a seat at the table."
The freezing of Afghan central bank assets by foreign governments and sanctions on the banking sector have created obstacles for the country's economy. However, the businesswomen participating in the fair stated that they will not give up.
