Tanzania is set to use this year's international gemstone fair to promote East African mineral potentials, an official said on Sunday.

Tanzania's Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Medard Kalemani disclosed this here when speaking ahead of the Arusha Gem Fair, which is to be held next week in Tanzania's northern safari capital of Arusha.

According to the minister, the three-day event dubbed: "Arusha Gem Fair" is to involve more than 600 miners, jewellers and mineral dealers from across the world.

Kalemani said that the international gemstone fair is to involve all players in Tanzania's mining industry as well as licensed gem dealers, jewellers, and gemstone miners.

According to the minister, this year's fair is in line with fulfilling Tanzania's ambitions of turning Arusha into Africa's largest gemstone hub.

Kalemani said the fair is to link more than 100 exhibitors from the east, central and southern African countries with over 500 international buyers.

"The fair is also expected to involve renowned stakeholders in the field of gemstone," organizers said, adding that the AGF is meant to scale-up mineral business in sub-Saharan Africa," he said.

The government has issued a temporary suspension of gemstone exports between April 5 and 28, this year.

"We wish to confirm that gems to be exhibited at the 5th Arusha Gem Fair (AGF) this year will be granted permission for temporary importation in accordance with the requirements of the laws governing temporary importation. However, for control purposes, you will be required to confirm your participation along with the goods you intend to bring to AGF in advance," he said.

"The move is meant to ensure that there are enough gemstones on display during the exhibition," he said, adding that export permits will be granted from April 19 until the fair is completed.

The 2016 AGF is expected to attract about 65 exhibitors from Tanzania, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Uganda. The list will have some of the most reputable names in the business including the likes of Tanzanite One Mining Limited, Williamson Diamond Limited (Petra Diamonds), GIA (South Africa) and many others.

A comprehensive list will be printed on the AGF 2016 Show Guide.

The show features a wide variety of colored gemstones and diamonds. Fair activities will include showing of rough and cut stones, lapidary equipment, educational material, lapidary demonstrations, seminars and panels, keynote speakers and mine tours.

Source: XINHUA