New facilities for gem and jewellery trade

A.G. Piyadasa

The Government is to construct a new building including a Gem Museum, Gem and Jewellery Laboratory showrooms, a Gem Exchange Centre and a Training Centre to promote the gem and jewellery sector on a land in Galle Road belonging to the BOI.

Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Dr Sarath Amunugama told a discussion held at the Ministry yesterday with the members of Association of Gem and Jewellery Industry (AGJI) and entrepreneurs that Sri Lanka should make joint ventures with India as they have an elastic demand in the trade.

He proposed to invite top ten Indian businessmen in the gem and jewellery trade to Sri Lanka to join this sector and get a good training from them.

During this meeting members of AGJI discussed the difficulties they face in the sector in purchasing equipment, payment of taxes in purchasing main raw material such as pure gold, platinum and gems, lack of recognition for Sri Lankan gem traders in Madagascar, and issues related to depreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee.

The Minister pledged to support entrepreneurs in the sector to import special bangle making machinery from India through the National Enterprise Development Authority.