Women’s chamber to establish mechanism for women entrepreneurs

Afghanistan Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AWCCI) officials say they are trying to set up points of contact in all 34 provinces to assist women entrepreneurs. 

They said they have assessed the problems of women entrepreneurs and reached an agreement with some international aid organizations to resolve issues. 

The chamber officials said based on the agreement with these organizations, they will help women entrepreneurs obtain raw materials.

Currently, 900 companies are registered with this chamber – all of which are women-run.

“We have 900 companies registered in the Women’s Chamber of Commerce, in which there are small and large firms that have business licenses, and 15,000 women work in these companies,” said Shila Nabizadah, deputy head of AWCCI.

AWCCI officials however said in addition to financial problems, the high number of licenses needed and taxes are other challenges that women entrepreneurs are facing. 

According to this chamber, in order to solve these problems, they have started talking with the relevant authorities in the hope of getting a special discount for women.

Meanwhile, ministry of industry and commerce officials also consider the role of women in the country’s economy as important.

“Their activities [women entrepreneurs] are mainly in seven sectors, handicraft sector, agriculture sector, health sector, service sector, food sector, industry sector and mining sector,” said Abdul Salam Jawad Akhundzadah, a spokesman for MoIC.

“The presence of women in the investment and economic fields of the country can increase the food security of families and limit the scope of poverty in Afghanistan.”