Enterprise and Workforce Development for Stability Islamic Republic of Afganistan
Gemstones & Jewelry: Untapped Potential
Gemstones: A Massive Opportunity • The USGS Survey 2007 Assessment found abundant deposits of colored stones and gemstones, including emerald, ruby, sapphire, garnet, lapis, kunzite, spinel, tourmaline and peridot of a quality comparable to the highest-class minerals in the entire region. • If responsibly extracted and processed, Afghanistan’s estimated $1 trillion in mineral wealth can play a vital role in revitalizing the Afghan economy. • Vocational training is a key factor in retaining that wealth.
Lack of high-quality extraction processes, infrastructure and trained craftspeople • Much artisanal mining is conducted using outdated, destructive techniques. • Most Afghan gemstones are exported in rough form, and then cut, set, and sold in other countries. • A large portion of the overall value chain (over 300%) is lost due to the lack of properly trained personnel and infrastructure.
Vocational training in proper mining techniques, gemology, gemcutting, and jewelry is critical • As Afghanistan’s vast mineral resources and world-class gemstones are
extracted, facilities and skilled workers must be established to retain the lion’s share of their value inside the country. • Internationally certified gemologists,
gemcutters and jewelry designers can fill this gap, but must be trained now in order to meet the increasing demand as gemstones are extracted at scale in the coming years.
An advanced training and production center for gemcutting, gemology, and jewelry could unlock the potential of this under-realized sector • Turquoise Mountain, the Rupani Foundation and GIZ provide crucial instruction in this area, but advanced training for artisanal miners, gemologists, gemcutters and designers is required to unlock the huge potential of this sector • Such a facility could provide international certification through globally-recognized organizations, provide gemology assessment to establish and validate gem values, and teach and practice high-quality production and quality-control practices to compete with established global producers
Closing the skills gap • Under sponsorship of the TFBSO, Future Brilliance has been training Afghan
students at the Indian Institute of Gemstones and Jewelry, and working with City & Guilds to grant them international certifications in gemology, gemcutting, beadmaking, jewelry design, and other subjects. • We are establishing a collective of high-level Afghan men and women artisans, and training our craftspeople in 21st century solutions to the age-old problem of access to markets, using solar-powered tablet computers to drive e-commerce.
• Working with our Afghan artisans, we are proud to announce the launch of Aayenda, an Afghan brand for the international marketplace.
http://aayenda-jewelry.myshopify.com/