The forthcoming AGJEC 2024, a visionary initiative of the African Union and proudly hosted by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, in collaboration with Women in Mining Nigeria—a distinguished member of the Association of African Women in Mining. The primary goal of this endeavor is to foster value chain amplification among stakeholders throughout the continent, underpinned by an unwavering commitment to gender inclusivity as a paramount priority. This commitment stands as a pivotal stride towards fulfilling SDG Goals 5 and 8 within the sector stemming from these precious resources. AGJEC places a special emphasis on garnering Member States’ support for their women miners, traders, and women-led artisanal and small-and-medium-scale enterprises (ASMMEs). These enterprising entities and associations will be offered a dedicated platform within the exhibition pavilion, thus establishing a vibrant marketplace where local, regional, and international buyers can directly source gemstones and jewelry from their countries of origin.
The thematic essence of AGJEC-GGCE 2024 lies encapsulated in the phrase
“Empowering African women in gemstone and jewellery value chains – breaking barriers, building futures and capacity in the African Union year of Education” while we focus on “Building Africa’s Gemstone and Jewellery Value Chains through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and highlighting the Fusion of Jewellery and Fashion “
Africa stands as a pivotal producer of a captivating array of colored gemstones, with numerous nations within the continent boasting occurrences of these exquisite, often precious and semi-precious stones that command significant attention within the jewelry industry.
Despite the presence of these gemstone deposits, and the engagement of a considerable number of women in their artisanal and small-scale extraction, the African nations housing these invaluable resources, as well as the hardworking miners, find themselves deprived of the substantial international prices these gemstones fetch. A notable realization has emerged among practitioners, revealing that a significant portion of gemstones circulating in the global market originates from artisanal and small-scale mining operations. This understanding has spurred a dedicated study aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), aiming to unravel the potential of a robust 20-billion-dollar gemstone and jewelry value chain across the continent.
Numerous factors contribute to the inability of ASM miners to fully realize the value embedded within gemstone mining. These factors encompass a lack of market awareness, limited understanding of the supply chain intricacies, and deficient proficiency in the critical areas of grading, cutting, and polishing.
The Africa Mining Vision
The Africa Mining Vision (AMV), a pivotal blueprint adopted by African nations in 2009, outlines a roadmap for an inclusive and sustainable development of the continent’s mineral resources sector, serving as the bedrock for comprehensive advancement.
Central to the AMV’s aspirations is the necessity for local value addition to minerals, a key driver in optimizing the social and economic transformation of African countries.
The African Mining Development Center
The establishment of the African Mining Development Center (AMDC) stands as a resolute effort to foster sectoral growth. AGJEC, conceived by the AMDC, plays a pivotal role in convening diverse stakeholders from the gemstone and jewelry supply chain across the continent. This convergence serves to address sectoral dynamics and challenges, engage in substantive policy dialogues, and concurrently pursue tangible initiatives concerning responsible sourcing of gemstones and jewelry from Africa, along with innovative solutions for localized value addition.
The Africa Gem, Jewellery Exhibition and Conference
The Africa Gem, Jewellery Exhibition and Conference (AGJEC) endeavors to showcase Africa’s treasure trove of gemstone wealth while providing a platform to stimulate value creation, maximization, and intra-African trade possibilities stemming from these precious resources. AGJEC places a special emphasis on garnering Member States’ support for their women miners, traders, and women-led artisanal and small-and medium-scale enterprises (ASMMEs). These enterprising entities and associations will be offered a dedicated platform within the exhibition pavilion, thus establishing a vibrant marketplace where local, regional, and international buyers can directly source gemstones and jewelry from their countries of origin.
Aligned with the ethos of promoting responsible sourcing, this occasion will serve as an invaluable opportunity for women miners and jewelry entrepreneurs to forge connections with players within the supply chain, gaining insights into the nuanced dynamics of the trade. This interaction holds the potential to cultivate an enhanced appreciation among women miners, traders, and women-led enterprises in the gemstone and jewelry sector for the rewards and opportunities inherent in localized value addition.
Eng. Sithole has been leading transformative initiatives in the gemstone sector, setting new industry benchmarks. Leveraging his analytical prowess and gemmological acumen, he has been instrumental in enhancing operational due diligence and promoting sustainable practices. His dedication to innovation and ethical entrepreneurship continues to drive value creation and forge a path towards a more transparent and responsible mining industry. His past exploits include several years working for the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) and Head Gemologist for the Silk Road Heart Gemological Laboratory and Lapidary in Afghanistan. ENDS//
