Welcome

Afghan Women's Business Federation Holds First Annual National Conference

Afghan Women's Business Federation Holds First Annual National Conference
Wednesday, 25 February 2009 00:00

Kabul, Afghanistan | February 25, 2009-The Afghan Women's Business Federation (AWBF) held its first ever, annual conference on February 25, 2009, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul. Member associations, businesswomen, private sector partners, Afghan government officials, international organizations, and other interested parties were in attendance at the one-day event.

AWBF announced its 2009 strategy and the creation of a new advisory board, comprised of leading Afghan women entrepreneurs who will offer guidance in the organization's development and mentorship to its members. The findings of a recent membership survey were presented, identifying common challenges facing women-owned businesses in Afghanistan today. Some of the most critical challenges, facing women in all sectors of the economy, are the lack of access to capital equipment and to finance, and the limited ability to conduct effective marketing, among other capacity shortages. Members and guests engaged in constructive dialogue about the ways that AWBF can effectively address these challenges through opportunities for grants to procure productive machinery, improved financial services for women, specialized business training, linkages to new markets for women's products, and other public advocacy efforts.

In the event's opening address, Mrs. Gul Jan Zimarai, Director of AWBF, reinforced a message that AWBF is "leading the way as both a social and economic institution to provide full and necessary support for women's business associations, encouraging their full participation in Afghan's free market economy."

One AWBF member, Ms. Fahima Barati, acclaimed the efforts that AWBF has made in paving the way for women's business opportunities, stating that, "AWBF's nationwide network opened up many doors for women's business development, allowing women to help to build our country's future."

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan pledged support and cooperation in the economic empowerment of Afghan women through signing memoranda of understanding between AWBF and the Afghan Ministries of Commerce and Women's Affairs. Similar expressions of support and willingness to collaborate were signed by the Export Promotion Agency of Afghanistan, the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Foundation for Culture and Civil Society. These commitments will allow for improved coordination among different stakeholder efforts in developing women's businesses.

Founded in 2004 with support from the Ministry of Commerce and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Center for International Private Enterprise, AWBF has grown to become an umbrella organization for 82 women's business associations across Afghanistan. AWBF offers opportunities for training, workshops, product exhibition attendance, trade missions, match-making events, mentorship programs, and other economic opportunities that benefit Afghan businesswomen.

USAID, through its small and medium enterprise development program, assists AWBF's continued growth as an effective private sector advocate for Afghan women. Support to business associations is one way in which USAID works to stimulate greater economic growth in Afghanistan. Business associations like AWBF play an important role in this process as they both increase private sector productivity and unlock the untapped potential of Afghan women as significant contributors to the economic development of Afghanistan.

Back to Articles