ZAMBIAN EMERALDS INDIRECTLY EXPORTED TO NEW YORK

Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations -UN, Lazarous Kapambwe has disclosed that about 33 percent of Zambia’s emeralds found in New York are indirectly exported.
Ambassador Kapambwe says the emeralds are routed through other countries in Asia and the Middle East before arriving on the New York market as Jewellery.
The Ambassador however says it is encouraging that there are Zambians who have taken up the challenge of mining and processing gemstone in Zambia.
A Zambian gemstone company, Jewel of Africa is currently in the United States and last week charmed diplomats accredited to the United Nations at an exhibition held at the Zambia Mission in New York.
And Jewel of Africa Director of Sales and Marketing Rashmi Sharma said Zambia is the only country in the world blessed with eight different gems.
Ms Sharma said that her company has embarked on business programme of maximizing the country’s potential to be one of the leading manufactures of jewellery.
This is according to a statement released to ZNBC News by First Secretary for Press at the Zambian Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Wallen Simwaka.