A businesswomen’s expo opened in Bagh-e-Babur (Babur Gardens) in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul on Wednesday with over 130 businesswomen from various regions of the country participating.

The expo – a Nawroz Bazar - has been organized jointly by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MoRRD) and in the framework of rural industries program. It has provided a platform to the businesswomen to market their products.

MRRD officials have described the move as a step forward to finding new markets for Afghan women’s products.

Over 130 women from around the country have put their products on display, said MRRD.

Meanwhile a number of businesswomen have said that government should outline new economic and business policies for women so that they can market and export their products.

“We are determined to resolve the problems facing rural women or at least help them with marketing at these expos,” said Mujiburrahman Karimi.

Nazia is one businesswomen who has a stall at the expo.

I have brought handcrafts from 40 women in Nangarhar province to the expo, she said.

“We face a lot of difficulties in our area. Because many women want proper marketing (channels) for their products,” said Nazia.

In addition, Nabeela Musleh, deputy minster of women affairs has called on government to take more steps towards empowering women.

“Some programs have been implemented for women, these programs have proved effective. But we need to create an infrastructure for the women and this will bring major changes to the development of businesswomen,” said Musleh.

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA) has said that currently Afghan women have the capacity to participate in the bidding process for government tenders. They also suggested that women could contribute substantially to the economic sector if government is open to working with businesswomen on a national level.