JALALABAD (Pajhwok): At least 3,000 tons of slate stone was exported to foreign countries from eastern Nangarhar province during the past nine months, an official said on Wednesday.
Mufti Abdul Hamid Akhundzada, director of mines and petroleum, told Pajhwok Afghan News that large deposits of slate stones were available in Spin Khar mountain and thousands of tons were exported to foreign countries after semi-processing.
He said there were slate stone mines in six districts and about 50 million dollars investment had been made over it.
According to him, about 4,000 people are directly or indirectly employed in the slate stones business.
Shakrullah Safi, in charge of the export section, told Pajhwok that in addition to vegetables, and fruits, the export of slate stones had also increased through Torkham dry port.
He said: “After semi-processing, the slate stone is exported to Spain, Colombia, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan, and it has a good market and reputation.”
Slate stone traders and investors in the province said if the government provided support, they would be able to find markets in other countries as well.
Abdul Wahab Khogyaniwal, a trader of the stone, said many other countries had currently promised to buy Nangarhar’s slate stone but banking problems had made it difficult for them to do the business with them.
sa/ma
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