The Afghan Women’s Business Federation (AWBF) held its first ever, annual conference on February 25, 2009, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul.  Member associations, businesswomen, private sector partners, Afghan government officials, international organizations, and other interested parties were in attendance at the one-day event.

One member, Ms. Fahima Barati, said that, “AWBF’s nationwide network opened up many doors for women’s business development, allowing women to help to build our country’s future.”

AWBF announced its 2009 strategy and the creation of a new advisory board, comprised of leading Afghan women entrepreneurs who will offer guidance to the organization and mentorship to its members.  The findings of a recent membership survey were presented, identifying common challenges facing women-owned businesses in Afghanistan today, such as lack of access to capital equipment and the limited ability to conduct effective marketing.  Members and guests engaged in constructive dialogue about the ways that AWBF can effectively address these challenges through opportunities for grants to procure productive machinery, improved financial services for women, specialized business training, linkages to new markets for women’s products, and other public advocacy efforts. 

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan pledged support and cooperation in the economic empowerment of Afghan women through signing memoranda of understanding between AWBF and the Afghan Ministries of Commerce and Women’s Affairs.  Similar expressions of support and willingness to collaborate were signed by the Export Promotion Agency of Afghanistan, the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Afghan Association for Civil Society.  These commitments will allow for improved coordination among different stakeholder efforts in developing women’s businesses.

Founded in 2004 with support from the Ministry of Commerce and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), AWBF has grown to become an umbrella organization for 82 women’s business associations across Afghanistan.  AWBF offers opportunities for training, workshops, product exhibition attendance, trade missions, match-making events, mentorship programs, and other economic opportunities that benefit Afghan businesswomen.