The Gems and Jewellery Center of Excellence (GJCE) established with $1.1 million financial assistance of US Agency for International Development (USAID) and technical support of Gems & Jewellery Development Company has formally been handed over to University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Peshawar.
Speaking at a handing-over ceremony here on Monday, Rodger Garner, Acting Director of the USAID Mission in Pakistan, said that the establishment of the centre was another example of USAID long-term commitment to supporting development of Pakistan. He expressed the hope that the centre would help fuel the growth of the gem industry, saying that the step would prove as a source of income and jobs opportunities for the people hailing from tribal and settled areas of the region.
He added that the GJCE was a first of its kind in Asia and Africa, established to help FATA to capitalise on its vast gem resources, having the capacity to generate $12-15 million in revenues each year. Owing to lack of training, access to modern equipment, and collaboration between industry leaders, he observed that the region had not been able to reap the benefits of this important sector.
The varsity Vice Chancellor, Syed Imtiaz H Gilani while addressing on the occasion said that the UET in collaboration with PGJDC had developed new training courses to focus on providing current and future industry workers with rigorous academic training in marketable gemstone and jewellery production skills. He added that the joint venture should be taken as a success for the sustainable development of region. More than 200 people from Federally Administrative Tribal Areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have taken benefits from the centre, while around 1,000 professionals will be trained in Gemmology and Lapidary every year.