During recent talks in Doha, the Taliban received praise for their cooperation with the international community, although Indonesia is still pushing for a more inclusive economy in Afghanistan. The Foreign Minister of Indonesia highlighted the importance of an inclusive private sector in Afghanistan for the country’s future and expressed willingness to connect female entrepreneurs in Indonesia with their counterparts in Afghanistan to support economic growth. However, Afghan women were not allowed to attend the Meeting of Special Envoys on Afghanistan at the Taliban’s insistence, raising concerns about excluding important voices from the conversation.
The Afghan economy has been struggling for almost three years, facing challenges such as high unemployment, collapsing GDP, and price deflation. The private sector, particularly small and women-owned businesses, has been hit hard and is vulnerable to closure. The Taliban’s restrictions on female participation further exacerbate these economic issues. Despite this setback, diplomats from over two dozen countries gathered to discuss the country’s economy and private sector development at the Meeting of Special Envoys on Afghanistan in Doha.
