Afghanistan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Bazaar-e- Roz in international AgFair 2018

This time Bazaare-e-Roz was part of international AgFair 2018

on Oct 3, 4 and 5 in Badam Bagh, Kabul. Based on the MoU

with Private Sector of Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and

Livestock, AWCCI has facilitated the participation of 30 women

businesses by installing 30 portable booths in Badam Bagh.

Farmers and businesses of both men and women participated in

this exhibition from all over the country. H.E. Mr. Mohammad

Ashraf Ghani, the President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,

had visited the businesses and the products by Afghan farmers

in this exhibition. He thanked women hard work and emphasized

that women can have enormous role in Afghanistan Economic Self-Reliance Process.

Monthly Meeting of AWCCI-North Zone, Balkh Board of Directors

AWCCI-North Zone, Balkh held its Monthly Board of Directors meeting on October 4, 2018. In this

meeting, Ms. Shokria Yaqubi and Ms. Qandi Amaki, Board members and Ms. Tamana Farewar, Zone

Manager of AWCCI-North Zone, Balkh participated. As conclusion of the meeting, AWCCI-North Zone,

Balkh came up with the these following decisions: AWCCI will, conduct “Start Your Business” Course

for 20 businesswomen and women entrepreneurs in Balkh, hold an exhibition at the Directorate of

Commerce and Industry of Balkh for women entrepreneurs, attract new members for AWCCI-North Zone,

Balkh, build Network with organizations which support economic activities of women, hold awareness

raising sessions for Balkh businesswomen in AWCCI-North Zone, Balkh regional office in coming months.

Consultation Meeting on “Made by Afghan

Women” trademark

After several meetings in last months, a consultation meeting on finalizing the draft manual of “Made by Afghan Women”

trademark with coordination of Ministry of Industry and

Commerce (MoIC) held on Oct 11, 2018 in AWCCI. In this meeting, Ms. Afsana Rahimi, Chair of AWCCI Board of

Directors, Ms. Parwarish Oryakhail, Business Development

October Newsletter

Date of Issue: Nov. 12, 2018

Issue#: 09

Highlights of the Month

Bazaar-e- Roz in international AgFair 2018

Consultation Meeting on “Made by Afghan Women” trademark

Establishing a Women Bazaar in Balkh

Training Course of “Start Your Business” (SYB) in Balkh

Afghanistan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Services Director Ms. Fazila Azizi, Head of Small and Medium Enterprises in MoIC, AWCCI Board

members and staff participated. As the result of this meeting, considering MoIC, AWCCI and other Businesswomen inputs on standards of this trademark, the manual for “Made by Afghan Women”

trademark was finalized. Granting the “Made by Afghan Women” trademark by authorized entity to the

products and services of Afghan women businesses will be next.

AWCCI members’ participation in Training course on Jewelry Making

Techniques-China

AWCCI sent out its four members from Jewelry making

sector to three month Training course on Jewelry Making

Techniques which started on August 27, 2018 and will continue till November 24, 2018 in Hunan International

Business Vocational College of Changsha, China. The main

goal of this training is to train women and men who have

jewelry making companies on Jewelry making techniques. This training is organized for developing countries such as

Afghanistan, Mali, and South Africa.

Establishing a Women Bazaar in Balkh

Women for Women Committee is one of the AWCCI

North Zone-Balkh initiatives which was established with

the cooperation of SEDEP-GIZ. This committee had a

meeting in October 09, 2018 on organizing Women Bazaar for three days in Balkh province. All the members of the

committee participated in this meeting. In conclusion of

discussions among members of the committee, this committee will conduct a three days Women Bazaar in

November, 2018 in Rabeia Balkhi Bazaar, Balkh. Women for Women Committee is planning to have more

than 40 booths for women products in this Bazaar.

APAMA Consultancy Focus group with

female employees in East Zone

Continuing the Focus Group with female employees in four

zones of Afghanistan, AWCCI-East Zone, Nangarhar with

cooperation of APAMA Consultancy Services and KAKAR

Advocates organized the Focus group with female employees of government and non-government

organizations on October 10, 2018 in AWCCI-Nangarhar.

The session mainly focused on women employees’ problems in organizations. Representatives of organizations

talked about their problems and they emphasized on

providing proper working place for women. Participants emphasized that women should take part in political and economic affairs of the country equal to men.

Afghanistan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry

West Zone – Herat office Board of Directors meeting

AWCCI West Zone – Herat held a meeting with board members on Oct 27, 2018. In this meeting, Ms. Maryam

Jami Ul Ahmadi, Ms. Lina Shafaq, Ms. Jeela Habibi,

Board members, Ms. Seema Ghoriani, Business Consultant to AWCC- West zone and Ms. Nasim Gul

Azizi, Zone Manager of AWCCI- Herat participated.

Agenda pints of the meeting were, meeting with head of

Herat Municipality for Women Business Market, coordination for providing the Taxation laws awareness

seminars for business women, introducing AWCCI- West

Zone to Embassies and Consulates in Herat, Introducing AWCCI- West Zone to GIZ organization, general meeting with business women, and meeting with

AWCCI- West Zone consultants.

Training Course of “Start Your Business” (SYB) in Balkh

In Continuation to providing services for women

entrepreneurs of Balkh, AWCCI-North Zone, Balkh

organized international program of “Start and Improve

Your Business” by financial support of Aghaez

Consultancy for 5 days , October 10 to October 15, 2018 in

Conference Hall of Balkh Directorate of Commerce and

Industry. Ms. Najma Abed, one of AWCCI members,

Aghaez Consultancy representative in Balkh and Ms.

Tamana Fariwar, Zone Manager of AWCCI-North Zone

facilitated the session.20 businesswomen participated this

session. SYB is a package of international program of “Start and Improve Your Business” which provides

trainings for the people who have a business idea. In this training, trainees learned how to start their

businesses, choose the best business proposal, analyze the business idea, writing a business plan, budgeting

of business plans and other related issues considering all steps and standards. Training ended by distribution

of the certificates to participants.

Legal Awareness Sessions

In the month of October, AWCCI held 4 Legal Awareness sessions

for its members which were led by Legal Unit of AWCCI. “Women

rights in International treaties” and “Business Contract Laws” were the topic discussed during the month in Kabul and the session

facilitated by Ms. Sultana Khaknizhad, Legal Advisor to AWCCI.

Afghanistan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Besides, after 2 sessions on Advocacy and Laws through LEAD in

2016, AWCCI West zone-Herat started holding Legal Awareness

sessions in Herat. 2 Legal awareness sessions on “Heritage Laws” held during the month in Herat which were facilitated by Ms. Azada

Sediqi and Ms. Jamila Hussaini, from AWCCI Legal Unit. 10-15

businesswomen participated each session.

AWCCI Activities’ Media Coverage

During the month of October, AWCCI activities were shared to public via media coverage. Ms. Parwarish Oryakhai, Business

Development Services Director, Spoke to Arezo TV about

AWCCI activities and particularly Bazaars and exhibitions.

Besides, Ms. Masooma Ibrahimi, Board member of AWCCI, talked to Radio Jawanan

about women role in

country’s economy. Meanwhile, AWCCI

West zone-Herat activities attracted the media attention in

October. AWCCI Board of Directors and members in this zone had interview with Asia Radio on AWCCI activities and

achievements in this zone.

Booklet Vol. 4 Published

AWCCI vision is to highlight afghan women entrepreneurs’ activities in various sectors and promote their businesses. As a part of its promotion

activities for women and its campaign “Buy from Afghan women owned

businesses”, a booklet of members sectors and profiles is being published each quarter. This is the fourth edition that includes inspiring stories of

Afghan businesswomen.

Afghanistan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Other Activities of AWCCI in October

AWCCI is taking part in organizing a national event for business women with coordination of Ministry of

Industry and Commerce (MoIC) and First Lady Office. This conference will be held at end of November

2018.

Based on demand of customers and businesswomen, Juma Bazaars organized to be held in Thursdays as

well. AWCCI pursued the process of Afghan Businesswomen participation in Global Village Dubai by

holding many meeting with the selected businesswomen, the Organizer of Afghanistan Pavilions in Global

Village and Promote-WIE.