KABUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan marked a strategic milestone this week with the opening of its first specialized mining exhibition, a platform designed to spotlight the nation's substantial mineral resources, attract domestic and international capital, and accelerate the shift toward value-added processing.
The four-day event opened on Wednesday in the capital and brought together producers, explorers, extractors, and processors from across the sector, offering them a high-visibility arena to present their capabilities, forge commercial partnerships, and access new markets.
Organizers and participants emphasized its potential to shift from raw mineral extraction to higher-value processing, expand employment, and integrate Afghan minerals more effectively into global supply chains.
A marble producer based in western Herat province, with more than 25 years of experience and a workforce of approximately 180, was among those making use of the platform.
Already exporting to foreign markets, the company aimed to raise the visibility of its products and secure additional international buyers. "We have put on display products that have not been widely seen before," Mohammad Reza Naser, sales and marketing manager, told Xinhua.
The firm's objective was clear: to conclude commercial agreements with foreign visitors and diversify export destinations.
From southern Kandahar, a zinc oxide producer employing 60 workers highlighted its mineral extraction operations in Afghanistan's mountainous terrain. Its representative, Shakoori, described the exhibition as a dual opportunity to promote the company and showcase the country's broader mineral potential to international audiences.
Elsewhere, Esmatullah showcased jewelry fashioned from Afghanistan's precious and semi-precious stones, including emeralds, rubies, and lapis lazuli. The varied designs and colors underscore the economic benefits of domestic processing.
Welcoming the specialized event, he noted that transforming raw gemstones into finished products generates substantially greater value within the country. "We hope to establish contacts with other traders and show them that we have the capability to produce these kinds of products in Afghanistan," Esmatullah told Xinhua.
At the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi described the exhibition as an instrument of economic strategy.
He stressed its role in promoting Afghan mineral products, strengthening ties between local traders and international partners, generating employment, attracting investment, and supporting national growth.
The purpose of holding this exhibition is to showcase the country's mineral products and take an effective step toward fostering cooperation and coordination among domestic and foreign investors, Hanafi said. ■
