Prime Minister satisfied with Smeda's arrangements for Gem and jewellery fair

The Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaukat Aziz has expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made by the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda) for the first-ever official participation of a 38-member delegation from Pakistan in the Gem and Jewellery Fair being held in Thailand from September 14 to 19.
The delegation leaving for Bangkok in the leadership of Jahangir Khan Tareen, Federal Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives met the Prime Minister at Prime Minister House to apprise him about the arrangements made in this regard.
The meeting was also attended by Suleman Ghani, Federal Secretary Industries, Production and Special Initiatives and Shahab Khawaja, Chief Executive Officer of Smeda, says a press release of the Authority here on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister, while addressing the meeting, said that Gems and Jewellery Sector had a great potential of growth. But, unfortunately, Pakistan has not so far been able to compete with world standards and trends in this area. He regretted that the sector could not take off as an industry in the country.
He hoped that the comprehensive strategy to be developed in Smeda through a Strategy Working Group (SWOG) would address this issue carefully. He reiterated that the industry should have a clear vision about its future growth. The strategy should provide a sane answer to the question if the Gem and Jewellery sector in Pakistan has to survive as a low cost producer or brand itself as a high value industry, he said and advised to set all subsequent efforts and support structures accordingly.
Viewing a documentary on Gem and Jewellery sector of Pakistan, the Prime Minister said that keeping in view a large population of Buddhists in Thailand, we should have established a linkage of our traditional jewellery with Buddha culture. He wished well for the delegation and hoped that such efforts would bring about qualitative change in the industry.
Earlier, CEO Smeda Shahab Khawaja gave a detailed presentation on the arrangements. A space for 20 stalls has been booked in which 18 exhibitors would be displaying their products, he said adding that an arrangement for 3 areas for discussions has also been made. He further said that the pavilion would have two plasma screens showing a general documentary on Pakistan and a special documentary developed for the fair on Pakistan's Gem and Jewelry sector.-PR