KABUL (Pajhwok): A three-day exhibition titled“Anar” (Pomegranate) has been kicked off in southern Kandahar province to promote marketing opportunities for domestic products.

The exhibition features women's handicrafts, food and non-food items, constructions materials, health and agricultural medicines, dairy products and may other locally produced goods.

The event has been organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) and financially supported by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

According to the organisers, the event is aimed to create better marketing opportunities for national products and encourage people to use domestic goods instead of foreign ones.

Hamza Wahaj, director of the organising firm, said that 150 stalls had been set up for various types of products at the exhibition.

He added:“We want to further promote the culture of using local goods because our products often have better quality and lower prices compared to foreign ones. We hope to find a strong market for our national products.”

Sayed Sarwar Amani, head of the Kandahar Chamber of Mines and Industries, also said:“Experience from previous exhibitions has shown that the market for domestic products has improved, and public confidence in them has grown. People now have full trust in local products. Such exhibitions are essential for introducing our domestic goods to the public. This process should continue to help our industry grow.”

Hesamuddin Ubaidi, deputy head of the Shams Sayed Production Company, said each exhibition had had a positive impact on their business and helped increase the number of customers.

He added:“Exhibitions are the best form of advertisement for our products. We request that such events be organised more frequently and widely promoted in advance so that more people can attend.”

Mohammad Wali, head of an oil production company, said he had started his business with just 12,000 afghanis, but now owns a large factory employing many workers.

He said:“These exhibitions and advertisements have helped our industry grow. I started with very little capital, but thanks to such events, our business has expanded.”

In Kandahar, such exhibitions are usually held once a year, but industrialists say they should be organised more often and that a permanent exhibition space should be established where all of Kandahar's products can be displayed throughout the year.

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