Several marble factory owners in Kandahar report that their products are in high demand not only in domestic markets but also internationally.
They urge the interim government to provide more support for their production efforts.
One of the marble factories, established in the Shur Andam Industrial Park of Kandahar at a cost of $450,000, processes an average of 80 tons of marble daily from the Shah Wali Kot district.
"We process up to 80 tons of marble here daily and export our products, in addition to serving the domestic market, to countries like the UAE, China, India, Pakistan, and Qatar. There is high demand for our products, and we are working to expand our production capacity,” stated Nasibullah Mohammadi, the manager of the marble production factory in Kandahar.
Workers at the factory highlight the potential of marble, onyx, and granite for creating various decorative products.
"We have the ability to produce a variety of decorative stones and beautiful products, meeting the demands of both domestic and international customers," said Mohammad Tahir, a factory worker.
"We work with skilled laborers, some with up to 10 years of experience. We face no shortage of skills or expertise,” said Bilal Ahmad, another worker.
"We produce diverse products based on market demand and have received additional orders for production. We ensure the quality of our products, “said Mohammad Naseem, a factory worker.
The Kandahar Chamber of Mines and Industries aims to increase marble production in the province to reduce the need for similar imports.
"Fortunately, alongside mining in Kandahar, investment has also been made in the processing of mineral resources. We are working to boost our production and minimize the need for imports," said Sayed Sarwar Amani, the head of Kandahar’s Mines and Industries.
Currently, around 200 factories operate in the Shur Andam Industrial Park.
Local officials said that the capacity of production facilities will further increase with the activation of imported electricity in the province.