Afghanistan is rich in mineral wealth, including precious stones and gems like lapis lazuli, sapphires, and rubies. However, the lack of a regulatory apparatus has stunted the country’s gemstone industry, which has the potential to greatly enrich Afghanistan’s eastern provinces. Today, many of Afghanistan’s gems are smuggled through Pakistan and sold illegally as Pakistani exports. However, the efforts of a USAID-assisted business association are making great strides to legalize and develop the country’s gemstone trade.
On January 13, the Nuristan Gemstone Association signed an agreement with the Afghanistan Ministry of Mines that – for the first time – legalized the mining and trading of gemstones in the eastern part of the country. Plans are in place to build a gemstone bazaar in Jalalabad to sell mined products, allowing Afghanistan’s gemstone producers to support their families through legal means. The association, which is now self-sufficient, will continue to advance the growth of Afghanistan’s gemstone industry through an advocacy campaign and improved member services.
USAID/Afghanistan Program Highlights Double Issue: 1/16/2009-2/15/2009 2/15/2009