45 stone processing factories operating in Herat; Millions of dollars invested, exports to regional markets

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Herat: Officials of the Herat Chamber of Industries and Mines announced that about 45 stone production and processing factories are currently operating in the province’s industrial town. By processing stones extracted from different provinces of the country, these factories have not only met the needs of the domestic market, but have also provided the basis for exporting stone products.

 

Mohammad Nasser Amin, head of the Herat Chamber of Industries and Mines, said that the stone industry in this province has reached a self-sufficiency stage and its products are exported to Turkmenistan, Iran, a number of Arab countries and other regional markets.

 

According to him, millions of dollars have been invested in the extraction, production and processing of stone in Herat; an investment that has played an important role in the development of the industry, increasing exports and creating job opportunities.

 

Meanwhile, officials of a stone processing factory in Herat say that the decorative stones produced in the province are of high quality and can compete with products from regional countries.

 

Akram Najibi, head of the Sang Negin Asia Company, stated that the factory produces various types of decorative, ornamental and construction stones in different designs and dimensions, and the quality of these products is equal to the standards of European and American countries.

 

He added that after being transferred to the factory, the extracted stones go through the stages of cutting, polishing, designing, processing and packaging, and then are prepared for sale in the domestic and export markets.

 

On the other hand, a number of workers from this factory expressed their satisfaction with the provision of job opportunities within the country and said that creating employment in Afghanistan has saved them from migration and the difficulties of working in other countries.

 

These workers called on investors to increase investment in the stone production and processing sector to provide employment for more youth and help the country's economy grow.

 

It is worth noting that the Herat Industrial City, hosting more than a thousand factories active in various production sectors, is considered one of the most important industrial hubs in Afghanistan, and the stone industry is also considered one of the prominent and influential sectors of this city.