The Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Herat says that in the past three years, nearly one thousand women in the province have turned to commercial activities.
According to officials of this chamber, with the commencement of these women’s business activities, thousands of other women and girls have also been provided with job opportunities.
Behnar Saljooqi, the head of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Herat, said: “Most of the women registered in the chamber are active in handicrafts, and in the next stages, women are engaged in food production, agriculture, and other sectors.”
Several businesswomen in Herat are seeking more support for their commercial activities.
Parwana Osmani, who opened her art workshop in Herat city about seven months ago, has provided job opportunities for nearly ten girls.
“Schools and universities are closed, at least this work is an opportunity for our girls to take advantage of it and even start this work from home,” she said.
Almost all employees of this workshop are girls deprived of education who, alongside learning art, also earn an income.
“My family encouraged me to come to this job. I am very happy to leave the house, work here, and earn an income,” said Asra, one of the employees.
“Schools are closed, and in these circumstances, it is good that we work and have our own income, “Sadaf, another employee of the workshop, added.
Many of the women and girls engaged in commercial activities in Herat also support their families financially.
“It has been two months since we started working in person, and during this time, we have employed three women in tailoring and marketing,” said Mahtab Nazari, the manager of a clothing store.
“We ask women to support us so that we can expand our work and provide job opportunities for other women as well,” said Lida Ahmadzadah, an employee of a clothing store.
According to statistics from the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Herat, in addition to nearly one thousand officially registered women’s businesses, more than five thousand other women are also engaged in informal business activities in the province.
According to officials of this chamber, there are no restrictions on women’s business activities in Herat.
