Ceramic, porcelain, and semi-precious stone items are an integral part of the cultural and economic life of people living in Tajikistan. The country is rich with the natural raw materials necessary for the manufacturing of these products. Some enterprises produce souvenirs such as candlesticks, statuettes, chess, backgammons boards, decorative tableware using semi-precious stones such as lazurite, onyx, serpentine, marble, gabbro, and ophite. Ceramic works in Tursunzade produces dining sets, national teapots and pialas, plates, souvenir sets, vases, and salad dishes made of ceramics.

History. During the Soviet era a large glass-works, which worked on local quartz sand, was built in the northern portion of the country in order to provide for the growing demand for glass jars from the canning industry. It continues to supply the canning industry enterprises in the country and in portions of neighboring countries such as Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan with glass jars. Currently, the EBRD is considering upgrading the capacities of the glass-works in order to increased the assortment and quality of production. Construction of the second glass-works in the southern portion of the country has begun; this glass-work will also use in local materials.