Gem Centre in Mattala
“A sales outlet of gem and jewellery products called Rathanadeepa has been established at the World Trade Centre in Colombo.
The Authority also plans to set up such a sales centre in the Southern Province providing opportunities for craftsmen to sell their products at a good price,” the chairman said.
Galhena said the gem and jewellery industry will become the number one foreign exchange earner of Sri Lanka with the facilities they have today.
The garment industry has become the number one foreign exchange earner of the country within four or five years since it was started as an export industry. During that period, the country’s infrastructure facilities were very poor, he said. “Sri Lanka has plenty of resources, knowledge, infrastructure facilities and other requirements to develop the gem and jewellery industry as the number one foreign exchange earner.
The gem and jewellery industry is a big profit making industry. The government can get more economic benefits with the development of this sector, ” Galhena said.
He said there was a 14 percent growth in gem and jewellery exports in February 2013 compared to the same period in 2012.
There is a 90 percent growth in re exportation of gem and jewellery after cutting and polishing in 2013 compared to last year. The Gem and Jewellery Authority is also in the process of making Sri Lanka an international hub for colour stones and promoting value added gem products to compete with the international market. It is important to widen gem mining to meet future demands, Galhena said.
“The Authority will establish a one - stop shop to issue licenses to people wishing to obtain gem mining permits to enhance the efficiency of gem mining. We are always promoting environment - friendly gem mining and will take legal action against those who engage in illegal and improper gem mining,” the chairman said.
A gem museum will also be established in Ratnapura within the next few months. The Gem and Jewellery Authority will also sign an agreement with Idar-Oberstein, a town known as gemstone twin in Germany, to combine Ratnapura and Idar-Oberstein as twin cities.
Through this agreement, the authority plans to transfer technologies and also create a good market for our products in Europe, Galhena said.
Category: Local, Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport
0 comments