GJEPC to set up training institute in Udupi to boost sector

The Dollar Business Bureau 

Foraying into the field of education and training for the first time Southern India, Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) is establishing Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery (IIGJ) at Udupi in the state of Karnataka in collaboration with the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad.

This training institute will be a part of the series of institutes and facility centres which will be established by GJEPC all over the country.

The foundation stone for the premier training institute was laid by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, Sitharaman said, “Across the globe, the best of jewellery pieces are handmade. Global retail giants like Cartier, Boucheron or Van Cliff command premium prices for their handmade jewellery. India, whose forte lies in crafting most intricate handmade jewellery should capitalise on this opportunity by building the necessary infrastructure.”

By establishing institutes such as IIGJ and other centres in the gems & jewellery field, GJEPC has once again taken steps to further equip the sector and to make it competitive globally, she added.

Praveenshankar Pandya, Chairman, GJEPC said, “IIGJ in Udupi is one of the ambitious projects taken up by GJEPC to tap the unutilized potential of youth in this region and thereby giving a significant boost to Indian gems and jewellery sector. This is yet another step towards the pursuit of Skill India.”

The Institute will impart training to youth in the Southern region in several aspects of making hand-crafted jewellery, which eventually could generate employment opportunities in the gems and jewellery sector.

It also aimed at improving the skills of the already existing workforce that is engaged in the industry. Generation and upgradation of trained workforce will thus help in promoting the development of the local gems and jewellery industry.