TUSDEC - gems & jewellery strategy near conclusion

17 Dec '05

2 min read

Pala International received word this week from the Pakistan government's Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company (TUSDEC) that it is nearing completion of its Gems and Jewelry Sector Development Strategy. TUSDEC anticipates submitting its recommendations to the government for approval by the end of January.

According to TUSDEC, Asad-ur-Rehman of the Strategic Working Group on Gems and Jewelry sector stated that “the strategy [is] being developed by the group with the help of USAID, consultancy agencies, and a number of government organizations aimed at enhancing value-addition, with [the] ultimate aim of increasing exports of polished and processed gemstones and gem-studded jewelry.

For this purpose, he added, the establishment of common facility centres for training and manufacturing and gem identification and certification labs had been planned.

TUSDEC Chairman Almas Hyder highlighted CAD/CAM learning centers that are to be set up in Peshawar and elsewhere, providing skilled labor to the gems and jewelry sector.

Khalid Sultan Khawaja, Chairman of the Gems and Gemmological Institute of Pakistan, mentioned gemology and gem-cutting courses being offered by an educational facility established by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and All Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association of Rough & Un-Polished Precious & Semi Precious Stones (APCEA). (Palagems.com visitors may recall mention of EPB and APCEA in our overview of Pakistan'sgemstone industry.)

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