By Zambian Emeralds Co - Open Publications Magazine, September 2025

Lusaka, 18 September 2025 - A case study in the transformative potential of Africa's natural resources, Zambian Emeralds are an example of the catalytic impact a single commodity can have on value chains across multiple continents.

At home, Zambia's emerald industry, centred on the world-class Kagem open-pit mine, is making an increasingly measurable impact on the country's macroeconomic performance as well as the livelihoods of rural populations living in mining areas.

Kagem: Zambia's emerald giant

Emeralds put Zambia on the map as the world's second-largest source of gem-quality stones behind Colombia, a key position that has translated into valuable foreign-exchange earnings for the state1emeralds.com. Kagem employs hundreds of Zambians directly and supports a host of satellite enterprises, from transport companies to local gem cutters and polishers who prepare stones for export.

Gemfields' investment since 2008 has "stabilized and standardized the supply of emeralds, transforming the operation and the communities that surround it."

Job creation, government revenues, social and educational programs are some of the principal direct and indirect benefits Zambia's emerald trade is delivering to the country. At Kagem, Gemfields (with the Industrial Development Corporation, IDC, the mining arm of the Zambian government) has invested in social projects and education to improve the lives of families in mining communities that were otherwise bereft of basic services.

Training programs have also equipped mine workers with a set of skills and technical competencies that have created a pool of skilled labour, part of which has been able to move on to other sectors of the Zambian economy.

Infrastructure improvements in the mining areas are also opening previously remote areas to tourism and trade, further facilitating their economic integration into the country as a whole.

Recent developments

Gemfields, majority owner of the Kagem mine through a joint venture with the Zambian IDC, has said it will resume focused open-pit mining at two points in the Chama pit after a brief suspension earlier this year. This targeted mining is expected to "recover stones for its future higher-quality emerald auctions," according to Gemfields. Analysts say the resumption will reinforce market confidence and help sustain the commodity's export earnings2nationaljeweler.com.

Challenges remain for Zambia's emerald industry, not least ensuring that mining's direct and indirect benefits are reaching the poorest communities and that environmental externalities are being managed.

Emeralds from Zambia to the cutting rooms of India, Israel and Europe

For most of its journey from Zambia's green gems to the luxury boutiques and branded stores of Europe, the United States and beyond, Zambian emerald supply chains support economic spillovers in several other countries and markets.

Emerald cutting in Jaipur

Rough emeralds from the Kagem mine travel thousands of kilometres by sea before they are cut and polished in the world's leading emerald-cutting centre: Jaipur, India. The majority of Zambia's rough is shipped to this north Indian city, where its craftsmen turn it into the finished stones that adorn the world's jewellery retailers3gemfields.com. A report by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) confirms the pivotal role played by India (alongside Israel) in adding value to Zambian rough: "nearly all of the rough is cut in India and Israel."

Emeralds from Zambia to the cutting rooms of India, Jaipur

More than cutting and polishing, the GIA report's account of Zambia's value chains underlines "Zambia's export of rough" as "critical for their regional and international sales," while the "ultimate value of each rough piece is often dependent on the quality of the cut finished gem."

Gem polishing and precision cutting in Israel

Historic Israeli gem-cutting centres, such as Ramat Gan, also receive Zambian rough for processing. "The rough is cut, polished, graded and traded in Ramat Gan, Israel"6GIA report. This long-established relationship has kept European and North-American retailers and wholesale jewellers supplied with high-end emeralds.

Emeralds from Zambia to the cutting rooms of Israel, Ramat Gan

Emerald auctions in Dubai and other trade hubs in the Middle East

Zambian emeralds are a common sight at high-profile auctions in Dubai, where members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Europeans and Americans come together to trade gems from various countries, including Zambia.

Buyers from China and India also participate in these auctions, according to Forbes Africa. Forbes Africa cites Grizzly Mining, a Zambian emerald producer, as saying it holds "three to four emerald auctions a year… in Kitwe, Zambia and in Dubai, attended by some 130 companies"4forbesafrica.com. Dubai and the United Arab Emirates in general have emerged as trading gateways for coloured gemstones and the auctions held in the country provide services in the logistics, insurance and financial sectors that benefit the local economy.

Emeralds from Zambia to auctions in Dubai, UAE

Emerald polishing and fine-cutting in France, Italy and the United Kingdom

Polished emeralds from Zambia end up in high-end collections that are made by French, Italian and British jewel-makers, to name a few of the most important European luxury brands. A reliable source of supply is important for these brands to be able to meet demand for responsibly-mined and ethically-sourced gems, with the country seen as consistently offering ethical production in its emerald mining operations.

Emeralds from Zambia to high-end jewel-makers in Europe

Why do Zambian Emeralds have a ripple effect in other markets?

Jobs in other countries

Thousands of people in Indian cities, like Jaipur, are employed in cutting, setting and grading Zambian rough and polished emeralds.

Transfers of knowledge and technology

Gemfields' partnerships with local companies have also led to the introduction of advanced processing machinery into Indian and Israeli workshops, resulting in higher overall productivity in these value chains.

Tax receipts

Proceeds from auction fees, customs duties and other related services accrue to Dubai and the ports of Europe and the UK as tax receipts.

Supply-chain security

The establishment of a reliable source of supply in Zambia has reduced dependency on traditional shipments from Colombia and has therefore helped global markets better manage the price volatility associated with this mineral.

With Gemfields having said it would resume focused open-pit mining at the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia after a brief suspension earlier this year,5gemfields.com the quantities of rough being exported are set to increase. Industry experts expect Zambian emeralds to become more deeply integrated in the value-adding stages of their global supply chains, further amplifying the catalytic impact the commodity is having on economic sectors in several countries beyond Zambia itself.

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