Rangina Hamidi, Afghan ex-minister inspires at Summit in India

Rangina Hamidi, a former Afghan education minister, will be a featured speaker at the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS), which will take place on November 21, 2023. The two-day summit, a signature event for the Bengal administration, will draw inspiration from Rangina’s remarkable life and work, which crosses national boundaries.

The 45-year-old US citizen, who is currently teaching in the business department at Arizona State University, will share stories of endurance and boldness, with a focus on empowering women entrepreneurs. Rangina dedicated herself to the education and development of Afghan women when the Taliban took over Kabul on August 15, 2021.

Among her numerous successes, Rangina created a full value-chain strategy for an all-women's social corporation in Kandahar, with products reaching global markets. Her personal and professional life experiences display incredible persistence in the face of adversity, making her an excellent choice to inspire entrepreneurial spirits.

Rangina, who was born in Kandahar in 1978, spent his early years under Soviet occupation in Pakistan's Quetta before returning to Afghanistan in 2003. Her father, the former mayor of Kandahar, was slain by the Taliban in 2011.

Rangina was committed to development programs, education, and women's rights until her departure in 2021, despite the challenges of working in a hostile environment. Her presence at the BGBS demonstrates the summit's commitment to creating a global perspective and learning from outstanding individuals like Hamidi.