Nangarhar marble stones reach international markets

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Marble stones processed by 16 factories in eastern Nangarhar province are exported to Italy, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan besides being sent to a number of provinces inside the country. Officials of the factories processing the stone say they would also export the mineral to other Asian and European countries if they are provided with adequate electricity and security.
The stones are used in various decorative purposes in houses and other buildings. Zabihullah, a worker at one of marble stones processing factories in Jalalabad city, capital of Nangarhar, said that if the factories were provided with enough electricity and security, it would boost their business and they would recruit more workers.
He said that the stones extracted from the province’s mines currently reached a number of European and Asian countries but the export was limited due to low production. Sayed Ahmad, head of another factory, said that the government should provide fundamental needs of factories in the province. “If the current problems of investors are resolved, they would invest more and would create jobs and help the country in terms of productions”, he said.
Nangarhar Commerce and Industry Department officials say that the 16 factories have created jobs for 500 people directly or indirectly. Mohammad Hassan Mohsin, head of Nangarhar Commerce and Industry Department, said that the investment in these factories in Sheikh Mesri Industrial Park and in the 7th police district of Jalalabad city stood at $30 million. He said that the factories processed around 30,000 tons of marble each year.
Besides a number of provinces, the marble of Nangarhar is also exported to Italy, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan, he said. Meanwhile, Nangarhar governor’s spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani assured that there was no any security problems for businesspeople and investors and all people could create jobs by opening factories. Some problems previously existed in electricity area, but now the problems had been solved in Sheikh Mesri Industrial Park, he said.