Hon. Haji Mohammad Younus Mohmand, Representative of the World Federation for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA) in Afghanistan, attended and delivered remarks at the opening ceremony of the First Jewelry and Gold Industry Exhibition in Afghanistan.
The ceremony was attended by Hon. Nooruddin Azizi, Minister of Industry and Commerce; Sheikh Abdul Karim Haidar, Deputy Minister for Technical Affairs of the Ministry of Justice; H.E. Alireza Bigdeli, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Kabul; government officials; and representatives of the private sector.
In his remarks, Mr. Mohmand emphasized that gold should not be viewed merely as a form of jewelry, but as an important resource for industry, trade, employment, and economic growth. He stressed that Afghanistan’s objective should extend beyond the extraction and export of raw gold. Instead, the country should develop a complete value chain encompassing extraction, processing, jewelry manufacturing, marketing, and export.
Referring to Afghanistan’s long-standing history of jewelry craftsmanship, Mr. Mohmand noted that Afghan jewelers have preserved their art and skills from ancient times to the present day. He highlighted honesty, trustworthiness, quality, and adherence to professional standards as essential principles of the jewelry industry and ethical trade.
Mr. Mohmand described the jewelry industry as an important avenue for providing training and employment opportunities for young people and women. He expressed hope that the exhibition would contribute to strengthening domestic production, attracting investment, and creating access to new markets for Afghan-made products.