Foreign Investment in Panjshir’s Emeralds on the Rise

Mohammad Agha Hakim, the governor of Panjshir, says that foreign traders’ interest in investing in and trading emeralds from the province has increased compared to previous years.

According to the governor, in the latest bidding for Panjshir’s emeralds, two traders from India participated. In addition to presenting a proposal for better emerald extraction from the mines, they also expressed strong interest in investing in this sector.

Mohammad Agha Hakim stated: “Day by day, it is becoming more promising that Afghan emeralds, particularly those from Panjshir, are gaining more global recognition, attracting more foreign traders than before.”

In a recent bidding event organized by the Provincial Mining Oversight Committee, with the participation of domestic and foreign traders, 15,552 carats of emeralds worth $328,950 were sold to local traders.

Saifuddin Laton, the spokesperson for the Panjshir governor, said: “A total of 15,550 carats of emeralds, including five kilograms of sample emeralds, were sold for $328,950.”

Some local traders and miners in Panjshir province are urging officials to provide more opportunities for foreign investors in the province’s mines to enhance the importance and value of emeralds.

Mohammad Aman, a manager of one of the emerald mines, said: “The presence of both national and international traders has increased recently, which benefits the miners. When they come here and see the high-quality emeralds, they show more interest compared to other countries.”

According to officials, traders from the United States, China, Russia, Germany, India, and Iran have shown significant interest in investing in Panjshir’s emerald mines. However, nearly four years after the Islamic Emirate’s return to power, foreign investors have yet to begin practical mining operations in the province.