KANDAHAR - A United Nations-supported three-day exhibition of handicraft items – made by widows and other disadvantaged women – kicked off today in southern Afghan province of Kandahar.

On display at the exhibition – supported by the Afghanistan Sub-national Governance Programme of the UN Development Programme – are clothes for men and women, bouquets, pillow covers and mattresses, among others.

Opening the exhibition, the Governor of Kandahar, Dr. Toryali Wesa, urged local businessmen to help women sell their products in international markets, since “most of these handcrafts are of high quality” and sold only in Kandahar so far. He said women work very hard to produce these items and their work should be valued.

Some of the attendees, including the Kandahar Governor, purchased embroidered clothes and other items. The main purpose of this exhibition is to explore international markets for handmade products of Kandahar, according to organizers.