India-Afghanistan International Trade and Investment Show  was held from 12th to 15th December, 2018  at Hotel  Marriott, Mumbai.   The Show covered a wide range of products like Gemstone and Jewelry, Cashmere & Silk, Leather and Marble under  section “Afghan Treasures” ; Fresh & Dried Fruit, Cold Chain & Storage, Food Processing and Marketing under “Agriculture” ;  Renewable Energy, Electrical Power Generation, Construction, Airport Infra & Cargo and  Civil Aviation under “Infrastructure”;  Hospitals – Consulting Services,  Medical devices & Equipment -Financial Services, Diagnostic services – Information; Health insurance & Technologies  financing initiatives - Communication Tech,  Pharmaceutical products -omen-owned and  Tech partnerships with  private universities – Enterprises under “Health & Education Cross-cutting”  and     Civil Aviation,   Trucks & Heavy Equipment,     Automobiles & Auto Parts and   Mining-Marble, Talc, & Gold under “Heavy Industry”.

 

Interactive sessions were concurrently organized as B2B meetings between exporters from Afghanistan as well as importers from India.  About 8 companies involved in quarrying of marble blocks and producing slabs and tiles including artefacts had B2B meetings with 12 Indian companies. Government of Afghanistan had permitted export of only marble slabs and tiles, but not of marble blocks, but now the Government allowed export of marble blocks. Afghan Morvarid Stone Mining Company, Herat, is the only company which has been  granted license by the Government for export of marble blocks. 

 

Afghan Morvarid Stone Mining Company has mechanized quarries and is involved in production of marble blocks of white, white with brown and white with grey veins suitable for gangsaws, block cutters, monuments and handicrafts.  They are also producing polished slabs and tiles. 

 

For providing assistance in marketing their marble blocks in India, China, Turkey, Italy and Middle-East countries, Afghan Morvarid Stone Mining Company entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Stone Technology Centre (Training Division) Pvt. Ltd. [STC(TD) Pvt. Ltd.], (division of STC Group, Jaipur).  STC(TD) Pvt. Ltd. is providing necessary assistance to Afghan Morvarid Stone Mining Company  initially to sell their marble blocks abroad.  It is hoped that Indian importers would like the material as it is fine grained, bulk specific gravity 2,722 kg/m3 and water absorption of 0.11%, it is uniform in colour.  Potential importers can contact K. Vikram Rastogi, President, STC (TD) Pvt. Ltd., Jaipur (Mobile No. +91-9829015232,  Phone: +91-141 - 2376171, 2379653,  Email  [email protected] ; [email protected] ) for their requirements.