Sri Lanka has agreed to provide technical assistance to develop Pakistan gem Industry, covering all its various fields. In this connection, the two countries have signed a singed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
As an initial step, the Pakistan High commission in Sri Lanka with the coordination of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Recourses of Pakistan and Ministry of Enterprises Development and Investment Promotion of Sri Lanka organised a preliminary study visit of the Pakistan gem industry in 2007, a private television channel reported.
A technical experts panel, consisting of both the governments and the private sector was appointed by the Sri Lankan Minister of Enterprise Development. To reciprocate the study visit report, a delegation, led by Federal Secretary to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Recourses visited Sri Lanka to seek any assistance they could obtain from Sri Lanka to develop Pakistan gem industry.
Chairman of Sri Lankan National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) Hasitha Tillekeratne received the delegation and arranged meetings with the relevant government and the private sector organisations to gather all information on developing Pakistan gem industry.
According to the NGJA Chairman, a batch of 18 Pakistan trainees arrived in Sri Lanka in February, who will be attending a course at the Gem and Jewellery Institute, Colombo, and they will receive training on the basic and advanced gem cutting techniques. The institute is a skill developing sub-institute of Gem and Jewellery Association and supported by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA).