SL’s gem and jewellery industry preparing for post-pandemic revival
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Mr. Ajward Deen
The Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) recently held its annual general meeting virtually electing a new chairman, Ajward Deen and committee members and said it was preparing for a post-pandemic revival.
In a statement, the new committee has outlined an extensive plan that intends to uplift the industry post-pandemic.
“Like many other industries, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the gem and jewellery trade significantly. With approximately 800,000 – 1 million people dependent on the industry, the pandemic has easily affected 70-80 percent of people from all these sectors. The retail sector of the industry has been greatly impacted due to the lack of tourism over the past year and a half, with exporters being equally affected by the limitation of foreign buyers entering the country. The mining and lapidary production has decreased drastically due to the lockdowns, resulting in a low supply of gems available in the market. As a luxury business gem and jewellery is the first to be affected and the last to recover, therefore, it is of utmost importance that the association focuses on taking the industry forward post-pandemic,” SLGJA chairman Mr. Deen said, emphasising that his priority along with his team would be marketing and promoting the industry globally.
With the country gradually getting back to normal, the association plans to create an interesting calendar for 2022. A variety of events is being planned, from the return of the Facets – Gem and Jewellery exhibition, jewellery shows and online promotions to a unique charity linked jewellery design event and a jewellery design competition that has been planned for once the ground situation improves. Additionally, SLGJA aims to encourage young people to learn the skill of the Lapidary sector, inspiring youngsters to join the industry and providing them with the support and knowledge to build a career in Lapidary. Sri Lanka is renowned for its skill in gem cutting and through a variety of educational training programmes SLGJA aims to ensure this skill will not be lost.
Since the pandemic the industry has seen a drastic reduction in exports, however, the silver lining of this all is the entire world gradually opening up and returning to a new state of normal, Mr. Deen said adding that, “There is now a demand for high-quality gems and jewellery from the leading brands around the world”.