Diamond Deposits Found in Kyrgyzstan
September 06, 22
(IDEX Online) - Kyrgyzstan, the former Soviet republic, and one of the world's poorest countries, says it has diamond deposits.
The central Asian nation has never before reported diamond deposits. In 2020 it imported a negligible $61,000 of diamonds, primarily from UAE.
Kanatbek Madumarov, the Kyrgz Director of Precious Metals Department, said the geological explorations were ongoing, but noted that the diamonds were hard to reach.
"Work on entering the certification system will allow exploration, mining and processing of diamonds," he told local media.
"Kyrgyz entrepreneurs could bring rough diamonds from other countries and process them here, the law allows it."
A quarter of the Kyrgz population live below the poverty line, and that figure is forecast to rise.
Pic shows Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan.