Female entrepreneurs’ strength reaches above 750 in Herat

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Officials say the number of female entrepreneurs has surged in western Herat province, but these women ask the government to build exclusive markets for them.

Women doing small businesses in Herat say they are happy with their businesses and daily life and their presence in the market encouraged women to feel better and comfortable while shopping.

Fatima Anwari, who sells medicines in Marmar market, told Pajhwok that the presence of women sellers in shops had made women feel comfortable while buying goods they needed.

“I also feel comfortable selling things to a woman and I ask the government to consider more such specific places for women in this province,” she added.

Ziba Akrami, another seller, also corroborated Fatima’s account. “We are very comfortable and also feel good when shopping.”

Ziba Sediqi, a customer, told Pajhwok: “I’m really happy and we should also thank the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan for providing such space for women. It is very comfortable for a woman to purchase things from another woman.”

Samira, another customer at Herat’s marble market, told Pajhwok that women proved better sellers than men.

“If lady sellers work in some other markets, it would make female customers to shop in such locations”.

She asked the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to facilitate women working in such markets across the country.

Local officials said more facilities were considered for ladies and two special markets for them had been created and they could do their business there.

The spokesman for the governor Maulvi Nisar Ahmad Ilyas told Pajhwok that a large number of women had found work opportunities in Herat and the relevant authorities were l trying to establish more such working locations for women.

Provincial Industry and Trade director Maulvi Mohammad Bashir Seerat said before the IEA takeover, only 70 women were registered as members of the Women Chambers of Commerce and Investment (WACCI) in Herat, but now their strength reached over 750.

He said supporting female entrepreneurs was a priority of WACCI and the administration was trying to provide them more facilities within the framework of Islamic governance.

It is worth mentioning that right now two special markets for businesswomen exist in Herat.

sa/aw/ma

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