Emeralds and Semi-Precious Stones Mining Association of Zambia says it is encouraging that Gemfields has identified potential to market Zambia’s emeralds to consumers in China.
Association President Victor Kalesha told Money FM News in an interview that penetrating through any other market in China will be an added advantage to the Gemstone sector because the country has for a long time been depending on the Indian market which is the major Gemstone buyers from Zambia.
“It’s a welcome development and very encouraging, because for long we have been depending on the Indian market which is the major Gemstone buyers from Zambia. So if we penetrate through any other market like China that will be an added advantage to the Zambian Gemstone sector.”
“Just after that if we could penetrate through the market in China, it will be able to attract investment because then they will be seeing the product coming from Zambia especially that the market in Zambia is not well explored,” Mr. Kalesha said.
Mr. Kalesha stated that China is a good market because they may also want to invest into countries where the products are coming from, hence having a market in that country will help attract more investment in the country.
“I think China is a good market because they will also want to invest into countries where the products are coming from. So it’s a welcome move and very encouraging and we hope we will penetrate through and attract more investment in the country,” he added.
Mr. Kalesha’s comment comes following revelation by Gemfields, the majority shareholder in Kagem Emerald Mine in Lufwanyama district that it has identified significant potential market Zambia’s emeralds to consumers in China.