Herat’s 45 Stone Factories Supply Domestic Market and Export to Regional Countries
Industry officials in Herat report that with the operation of 45 factories dedicated to producing and processing decorative stones in the province’s industrial town, the domestic market demand is being met while a portion of the production is exported to regional countries.
Mohammad Nasser Amin, head of the Herat Chamber of Industries and Mines, stated that these factories are regularly active in the extraction and processing of decorative stones. Herat’s stone industry not only fulfills domestic demand but also exports to Turkmenistan, Iran, several Arab countries, and other regional markets.
According to him, millions of dollars have been invested in this sector, resulting in expanded production capacity, increased exports, and the creation of job opportunities within the province. Historically, Herat has been one of the key centers for the extraction and processing of decorative stones in the country.
However, economic activists emphasize that to sustain this growth, the Taliban administration must provide standard infrastructure, access to banking facilities, and practical support for the private sector. They warn that without clear economic policies and guaranteed, stable access to export markets, the investments made will face significant challenges.
Experts also believe that focusing on internal processing instead of raw material export, developing industrial infrastructure, and facilitating exports can make the stone industry one of the main pillars of the country’s economic growth. Achieving this requires transparent management and effective support for domestic producers.
