Several leading foreign groups dealing in gems and jewellery have shown interest in setting up training and manufacturing facilities here to upgrade the quality of precious stones and jewellery to match the international standards and compete in global markets effectively.
According to a report prepared by Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) on Pakistan's participation in the 36th Bangkok Gems & Jewellery Fair from September 14 to19, Pakistan's exhibitors not only received highly encouraging inquiries from buyers but also made individual sales, despite high import duty plus VAT, and received confirmed export orders in excess of $4 million to be filled over the next one year.
The report made available to Business Recorder highlights the working contacts made with the Thai and international groups during the fair. It was for the first time in the history of this industry that stakeholders from all provinces of the country, representing all links in the value chain, represented Pakistan.
The setting up of Pakistan pavilion and organisation of the 45-member delegation was facilitated by Ministry of Industries, Production and Special Initiatives, Smeda, PIDC and USAID, and managed by JE Austin Associates Inc.
Bangkok Gems & Jewellery Fair is the only event of its nature in Thailand which is jointly organised by the Department of Export Promotion, Thai Government and Thai Gems and Jewellery Traders Association.
The Pakistan delegation members from Gems and Jewellery Strategic Working Group (SWOG), Smeda, JE Austin and Associates including the branding expert, met with senior management of Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS) and Thai Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
Thai Diamond Manufacturers Association (TDMA) President Chirakitti Tang, who brought GIA to Thailand, has agreed to work with SWOG and Pakistan government to bring GIA to Pakistan. Tang, who is also close to the leadership of AIGS, will help in finalising an agreement to have an AIGS-affiliated training school established in Pakistan.
AIGS and GIA have shown interest to run courses in Pakistan which would confer on Pakistan Gems and Jewellery and its graduates the status and educational quality assurance which comes from the fact that these institutions have become regional, in particular GIA, the international brand in the gem education industry.
Vincent Pardieu, AIGS laboratory executive director, also expressed serious interest to visit Pakistan's gems mining and trading centres as part of a jointly led initiative with Guebelin, the famous laboratory and gem certification of Switzerland, as part of a project which aims to map and record gem deposits in Africa and Asia.
Pranda Group of Thailand suggested that it might consider training Pakistanis. Such training might also be a precursor to Pranda exploration of setting up a manufacturing facility in Pakistan.
According to the report, DIK-Vacutech's Werner Assmann, a leading manufacturing expert and equipment engineer, was identified as the key specialist in assessing Pakistan's future requirements for HR and training and facility layout, equipment and manufacturing technology.
His long-term experience in creating world class gems and jewellery manufacturing facilities would be crucial in supporting Pakistan's industry to raise its manufacturing standards and develop new market opportunities.
He set up manufacturing facilities for leaders including Pranda, Thailand, Titan and Derewala, India, and would be the director of the newly created Gems & Jewellery Department at the University of Jaipur. He agreed to the possibility of coming to Pakistan for a first evaluation and asset-mapping this month.