KABUL (SW) – The U.S. Department of State held a meeting on Tuesday, focusing on the economic status of Afghan women, titled the “Coalition for the Economic Resistance of Afghan Women”.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced that the meeting aimed to establish new partnerships promoting entrepreneurship, employment, and education for Afghan women and girls.
In this meeting, Blinken emphasized the detrimental impact of the ban on Afghan women and girls from work and education, highlighting their potential as crucial for Afghanistan’s economic growth.
“Investing in the education and employment of women and girls will benefit the entire country, contributing to family income, boosting Afghanistan’s economy by millions of dollars, creating additional economic opportunities, and enhancing peace and security stability, ultimately advancing society.”
Meanwhile, Aziza Momand, one of the women based in Afghanistan and active in the field of trade and economy, stressed the need for collaboration with women in various fields. Formerly involved in sports equipment production, her company faced challenges such as a lack of a suitable market, prompting her to call for international community’s support, especially in marketing and development and collaboration in supplying products and procure raw materials for them.
Momand, who had a sports equipment production company with around 130 women employees, currently, by setting up a sewing workshop, she has provided work to nearly 80 women.
Aziza Momand emphasizes that they have been promised support by the international community many times before, but they have not benefited from it so far. “Most of the companies, are currently in recession; because we do not have a suitable market. Previously, we used to export abroad but now we cannot, because trade routes are closed.”
Officials from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the de-facto government of the Islamic Emirate recognize the crucial role of women in the country’s trade and economy, affirmed their support for women investors and efforts to create more opportunities.
Akhundzada Abdusalam Javad, the ministry’s spokesperson, tells Salaam Watandar: “The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has always supported investor women. We try to create more facilities for them, trying to create an online website through which they can showcase their products and achievements to the world. Every day we see their work flourishing.”
