Gems and jewellery sector records strong growth
By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya
The country’s gem and jewellery industry continues its growth
momentum with increased export revenue for the first six months of
2013.“We could observe a steady growth in export revenue generation. The
growth momentum in the sector augurs well for related industries where
its contribution to the national economy becoming more significant,”
said Chairman and CEO National Gem and Jewellery Authority, Amitha
Gamage.

“We are confident that if this growth momentum continues the gem,
jewellery and diamond sector will reach $ one billion by 2016, he said.
The NGJA being the Government body mandated to develop, regulate and
promote the gem and jewellery industry in Sri Lanka has organised Sri
Lankan Pavilions in several international gem and jewellery exhibitions
in China, USA and Singapore.
These countries have been identified as booming markets for gem and
jewellery.
Gamage said that the NGJA representative at the annual conference of
International Coloured Gemstone Association (ICA) spoke on the
importance of organising ICA 2015 Congress in Sri Lanka, an important
gem bearing country.
He said that by hosting ICA Congress 2015 in Sri Lanka, the NGJA
hopes to gain immense publicity for Sri Lankan gems, traditional and
modern Sri Lankan craftsmanship, highly skilled gem cutting facility and
the hospitality of Sri Lankans. The event could help build a strong
image of the country.NGJA organised the Sri Lanka Pavilion at the JCK
Las Vegas Show, one of the biggest gem and jewellery exhibitions in the
international event calendar from May 31 to June 2. The NGJA Pavilion
had eight Sri Lankan gem trading companies, where there was demand for
jewellery made out of precious metals such as gold, platinum and base
metals. Therefore, the NGJA plans to further promote Sri Lankan
jewellery manufacturers at the JCK Las Vegas 2014 exhibition.
Gamage said that NGJA will encourage the gem and jewellery trading
community to venture into new markets such as Poland, Russia, Ukraine
and will organise ‘Sri Lanka Pavilions’ at two gem and jewellery
exhibitions in China this year. Exhibitions of this nature will the pave
way for exposure and opportunities for the gem and jewellery industry to
introduce world-renowned brands in Sri Lanka for backward integration
keeping in line with the Government’s development strategy which
emphasises value addition to make products globally competitive. |