Afghans in St. Louis have high hopes for the region’s new Afghan Chamber of Commerce

About 100 Afghan entrepreneurs, newly arrived Afghans and community members explored the new Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Afghan Community Center on Friday celebrating a place that could help Afghans start businesses in the St. Louis region and learn new skills.

The six-room center at 3611 S. Grand Blvd. is sponsored by the International Institute of St. Louis.

Members of the institute’s Afghan support team will teach English courses, entrepreneurship skills and financial literacy to Afghans who want to explore business opportunities.

The business center could help revitalize St. Louis and create opportunities for more refugees to come to the region, International Institute CEO and President Arrey Obenson said.

“We are not just welcoming Afghans, but we're building a community for them here,” he said.

Sulamin Kaymar found community in St. Louis when he arrived from Afghanistan in August 2021. He came to the United States after the fall of his country’s government.

Many Afghans have trouble starting new businesses and resettling because they do not speak English well, he said.