Madagascar's gemstone industry

THESE days the vast swathes of brick dirt that gives Madagascar its nickname the Red Island are pockmarked by small holes: evidence of the search for sapphires, rubies and other precious stones. Mining accounts for 3% of the country's GDP and 1% of its export revenues, and provides 500,000 seasonal and full-time jobs in a population of about 18m. But if the government improves the miners' and cutters' skills and curbs smuggling and corruption, the Malgaches would benefit a lot more.…

From The Economist print edition

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