In the Afghan capital Kabul, traders and craftsmen opened a trade fair under the rule of the Islamist Taliban. The local news channel Tolonews reported this on Thursday. The aim is to promote and encourage women in trade and crafts, Tolonews reported, citing the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Women, which organized the fair. Around 850 participants from all provinces in the country were represented with stands and would be exhibiting their products over the next seven days, it said. The event is purely for women.
Since the Taliban took over more than two years ago, trade and crafts have been among the few remaining sources of income for women in the country. The Islamists have excluded women from a large number of professions and, with the exception of a few areas, they are no longer allowed to work for non-governmental organizations.
Despite the Taliban’s systematic restrictions, the number of women in economic activity in Afghanistan has recently increased, according to a World Bank report this October. This particularly applies to activities that women can do from home, such as crafts or food production. The reason for the increase is the precarious economic situation in the country. According to the United Nations, almost two thirds of the people in the country are dependent on humanitarian aid. (dpa)