Tolo Shams Rufoq Ltd

Vendor Biography

I, Maliha Shams, was born in 1974 in Herat Province into a merchant family. I spent my childhood in Herat and, from an early age, showed a strong interest in gaining knowledge and developing various skills. I began my primary education while also studying the Holy Qur’an. Although I was deprived of schooling for a period due to difficult social circumstances, through perseverance and hard work, I completed grade 12 and graduated from Mahri High School in Herat, obtaining my diploma. This accomplishment reflects my strong spirit and determination to succeed.

I currently live in Herat with my family. From a young age, I faced various familial and social challenges, but none of them stopped me from pursuing my goals. I chose the path of business and, as an independent woman, pursued a different direction from many women of my generation.

My business journey began in 1992 when I purchased a sewing machine and established a small tailoring workshop. Through this workshop, I earned and saved enough initial capital. With savings of sixty thousand Afghanis, I began saffron cultivation with the support of my uncles, Fazel Ahmad Arab and Haji Wali Mohammad Arab. This was my first official experience in agriculture and trade, and it made me one of the pioneering Afghan women in the saffron sector.

Saffron became my main commercial product, and through tireless effort, I helped establish a strong foundation for this industry in Afghanistan. In 2014 , I registered Shams Avaran Company with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan, and later, in 2018, I registered my second business under the name Shams Rafiq Agriculture and Livestock Company. These companies are actively engaged in cultivating, processing, packaging, and exporting saffron.

Not limiting myself to saffron, I recognized market needs and diversified my business by establishing a beekeeping farm dedicated to natural honey production. This farm produced and packaged high-quality, 100% pure honey and created employment opportunities for men and women in rural areas.

In addition, I established a modern and standardized saffron processing and packaging center equipped with advanced machinery. In this center, saffron is processed and packaged according to national and international standards. The center not only improved the global standing of Afghan saffron but also created permanent jobs for 10 people and seasonal or temporary work for more than 500 individuals.

Throughout more than three decades of agricultural and business activity, I have trained more than 1,000 rural women in saffron processing, storage, and packaging. I strongly believe that empowering rural women is a cornerstone of Afghanistan’s economic and social development.

My work has extended beyond Afghanistan. I have participated in more than fifty national and international exhibitions in countries such as India, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Oman, and Sri Lanka, promoting Afghan products to global markets. These exhibitions have provided valuable opportunities for the export and expansion of Afghan saffron.

I am an active member of several national and international organizations, including the Afghanistan National Saffron Union (of which I am a founder), the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, the Afghanistan Investment Chamber, the Women’s Chamber of Commerce, the Afghanistan Agriculture Association, and the Afghan Women Exporters Committee. These memberships have greatly supported my business growth and networking.

During my business career, I have received multiple awards, including the titles of “Best Active Woman in Business”and “Top Businesswoman of Herat.” I have also achieved second place in saffron exports at the national level.

My main goals include developing Afghanistan’s saffron industry, creating employment opportunities for rural women and men, empowering women, promoting high-quality Afghan products in international markets, and contributing to the country’s economic growth. I firmly believe that with dedication and hard work, Afghan women can actively participate alongside men in major trade and economic sectors and strive for a brighter future.