“For the people, it was a novel concept for a lady to be involved in the realm of commerce. Following the political developments in the country, I commenced my role as the Deputy of the Women’s Commerce Chamber, and subsequently, official elections were held, in which I secured the highest number of votes to advance to this presidency.”
This is but a mere excerpt of the discourse by Behnaz Saljuqi, the Director of the Women’s Commerce Chamber in the west of Afghanistan, regarding her activities, opportunities, and challenges. I have arranged for an in-depth conversation with Ms. Saljuqi for further discussion on this matter, which you will read further on:
Question: Dear Ms. Saljuqi, thank you for determining the time. To begin with, please tell us how you ventured into the field of commerce.
Response: The story of how I entered the world of commerce traces back to the year 2017 when I was a diligent student engrossed in my studies. At that time, the idea of a business sprung to mind, aiming to establish my venture, generate income, and create employment opportunities for other women. It was from this point onwards that I embarked on launching my modest enterprise.
Q: Please enlighten us about the challenges and opportunities you have encountered as a female entrepreneur in the field of commerce.
R: Due to the scarcity of women in the commerce sector, it was a novel concept for the general public, even families, to see a woman engaging in commercial endeavours. The establishment of a business was arduous, and at that time, there was less support from the community. Challenges have always been present, and the initiation of any business comes with its difficulties. However, alongside the challenges, there were also opportunities for me. With fewer hands at work in the job market, meant there were fewer competitors in the market, which could serve as a favourable opportunity for me to pave the path of progress for myself more swiftly.
Q: Since when did you assume the presidency of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce in the Western Zone, and In the current situation, how has the advancement of a directorate been for you?
R: After the political changes in the country, I commenced my journey as the deputy director of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce in the Western Zone. Following a period, official elections were held, and I received the highest number of votes to advance to the presidency. Subsequently, our provincial chambers were inaugurated, which brought a sense of joy as we had not had provincial chambers in the Western Zone before. While we referred to ourselves as the Western Zone, women’s activities were not under the supervision of the Chamber of Commerce and operated sporadically.
Currently, our provincial chambers encompass the provinces of Herat, Farah, Badghis, Nimroz, and Ghor and are actively engaged. The directorate of the Western Zone chambers was entrusted to me with the highest number of votes, and it has been over a year since I have been active in this role. Leading the Chamber of Commerce, especially bearing the responsibility of five provinces, presents its challenges. Although I am pleased to witness an increasing number of female entrepreneurs, the more their number grows, the greater the responsibilities and obligations for myself and the Chamber of Commerce team. We strive to expand our services and earnestly serve the women in our community.
Q: Not long ago, you also achieved the Bibi Khadija Award (an annual competition held among female entrepreneurs throughout Afghanistan). I would like to hear your thoughts on this matter as well.
R: Winning the Bibi Khadija Award was a nationwide competition among women. After starting my business in 2018, I was able to achieve this accolade in my second year and became the first person from Herat to win the Bibi Khadija Award. Fortunately, another lady from our region also obtained this award after me. I remember with great pride the Bibi Khadija Award, as at the time when I received this recognition, the number of active female participants in the commercial sector was very low.
Q: In the current circumstances where there are restrictions on women’s work, how do you assess the situation of entrepreneur women in the Western Zone?
R: In the field of women’s entrepreneurship in the private sector, women can engage in activities. The challenges they encounter often relate to market intricacies and occasionally personal obstacles such as financial constraints. Fortunately, determined women do not face specific restrictions in the realm of limitations. Recently, we have also observed the participation of women in international exhibitions, facilitated by the collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. An allocation has been made for women to have an active presence in these international exhibitions.
Q: What are the challenges facing women in trade professions, and how many women are members of the Chamber of Commerce in the Western Zone?
R: Regarding the existing challenges faced by women in trade professions, the primary issues are the lack of budget and financial difficulties. We have some talented women with very good ideas, but unfortunately, they lack the necessary budget to put those ideas into action. They do not have proper access to loans and financial resources to launch their business ideas. Some of these women have not engaged much in commerce and require certain training and capacity-building to unlock their path to progress and address many of their issues. In addition, there are other women whose activities are commendable, but they face challenges in obtaining international standard licenses, again due to budget constraints preventing them from covering the costs and engaging in exports.
The number of women in trade professions who have registered with the Women’s Chamber of Commerce in the past three years has reached 715 individuals, whom we have in the city and districts of Herat. Fortunately, this figure has consistently been on the rise.
Q: What are your future plans to improve the situation of women in trade professions in the Western Zone, I would also like to hear your final thoughts for the women of Afghanistan.
R: The Chamber of Commerce and Industries of the Western Zone have various plans for the growth and advancement of women in trade professions, marketing, and connecting female traders to global markets. Furthermore, We are striving to establish an industrial park for women and we are in the process of planning to address the challenges faced by women. I hope to be able to implement these plans successfully, and I also wish to provide a closing remark for the women of Afghanistan.
- نویسنده : Afghanistan Women News Agency
- منبع خبر : Afghanistan Women News Agency
