TANZANIA TO BE THE HUB OF GEMSTONE BUSINESS IN AFRICA

Tanzania will be the hub of gemstones business in Africa after being identified as among of the richest countries in gemstones in Africa, it was revealed.

Speaking during the seminar that involved assistant commissioners, resident mining officers and gemologists organized by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals the gemologist Teddy Goliama from Tanzania Sorting (TANSORT) said that Tanzania was proposed by Thailand during Bangkok Gem and Jewellery Fair held in Thailand earlier this year.

Goliama said that Tanzania was proposed as the hub of gemstone business in Africa due to the abundance of gemstones adding that investors from different countries have been attracted by gemstones from Tanzania especially tanzanite.

She explained that previously the Prime Minister for Thailand visited Tanzania and met with experts from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals.

She further explained that the Thailand Prime Minister invited the delegation from Tanzania to visit her country as well as to discuss the areas of cooperation so as to boost the gemstone business in Tanzania.

Goliama added that the delegation led by Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals Stephen Masele met with experts from Thailand and agreed to use international exhibitions as one of strategies of promoting investment opportunities in the gemstone industry in Tanzania.

She stressed that after doing well in exhibition and found as among of richest countries with gemstones, Tanzania was proposed as the hub of gemstone business in Africa.

“Until now there is no any hub of gemstone business in Africa, we have been using Arusha Gemstone Fair as the hub of business.” She emphasized.

Goliama insisted that Tanzania has the strategy of improving Arusha Gemstone Fair at international level so that it may be used as the linkage of gemstone business between Africa and other continents

Meanwhile, Matiko Sanawa , the gemologist from TANSORT explaining on the challenges facing the gemstone business in Tanzania, added that the lack of awareness among other countries on tanzanite led the country not to get enough capital from gemstone industry.

Matiko explained that international exhibitions could be used as one way of building the new network as well as promoting investment opportunities in the gemstone industry in Tanzania