2006-05-28 10:27:57 - The Gems and Jewelry industry is working hard to catch-up with global trends in value-added processing and cost-effective production. The launch of 'Zar-o-Jawahir Pakistan- is a joint effort of Pakistan Gems & Jewelry Strategy Working Group (SWOG) to strengthen the industry's new face and to disseminate information about itself and its strategy to become a vibrant and competitive sector.

Karachi, May 28, 2006 - Pakistan Gems and Jewelry Industry is totally reinventing itself as a quality producer of able to compete globally, through skills and technology up-gradation, better quality control and innovative branding, this was a joint statement by the Pakistan Gems and Jewelry Strategy Working Group (SWOG) at Pearl Continental Hotel Karachi. The event attracted more than 100

participants from the gems and jewelry industry to celebrate the launch of a monthly trade magazine, 'Zar-o-Jawahir Pakistan-, intended to broadcast to Pakistan and the global market place that Pakistan's Gems and Jewelry sector is ready to claim in rightful place in the US$80 billion plus international market for gems and jewelry. Others in the region are exporting into the billions of dollars, and Pakistan's industry has now come together to gain significant market share.

The 'Pakistan Initiative for Strategic Development and Competitiveness- (PISDAC) is a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded activity managed by J.E. Austin Associates Inc. and is aimed at increasing the competitiveness of Pakistani Small and Medium sized enterprises. The sectors currently covered under the project are Gems & Jewelry, Dairy, Marble & Granite, Furniture and Horticulture/Food Processing.

Started in May 2004, the project worked with several prominent Pakistani industries and helped form three Strategic Working Groups (commonly referred to as SWOGs), which develop sector-specific strategies. SWOGs include industry leaders, government officials, academia, and relevant NGOs that are working together to develop strategies and implement policy and regulatory changes through public-private dialogue.

These strategies are aimed at upgrading production, improving marketing and understanding and meeting consumer demand. The Strategic Working Groups identify priority investments in human resources, infrastructure, technology, and, management required to produce higher-quality products.

The strategy developed by the Gems and Jewellery SWOG is aimed at facilitating growth throughout the value chain. The SWOG envisioned working together across regions and activities for establishing Pakistan as a high value added, internationally competitive, world-class hub for precious stone cutting and jewelry manufacturing. strategic initiatives are intended to close the benchmarking gap between Pakistan and other countries with a strong Gems & Jewellery sector. SWOG members anticipate that the proposed initiatives will result in an increase in jobs, particularly in skilled labor. Only recently has the Gems and Jewelry sector been officially recognized and granted industry status by the Government of Pakistan.

The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) have been two key partners along with the USAID PISDAC project. They have helped the industry to move forward, and are committed to help the industry achieve its ambitious goal to increase exports to US$500 million or even more by 2010. Industry hopes to develop its value chain quickly so that its performance will go well beyond this goal. .

The industry is now working hard to catch-up with global trends in value-added processing and cost-effective production. The launch of 'Zar-o-Jawahir Pakistan- is a joint effort of Pakistan Gems & Jewelry Strategy Working Group (SWOG) to strengthen the industry's new face and to disseminate information about itself and its strategy to become a vibrant and competitive sector. Members of the SWOG from other areas of Pakistan have joined their Karachi colleagues to celebrate this initiative. The Industry hopes to also launch the first ever world class combined gems and jewelry show in Pakistan before the end of 2006. 'Zar-o-Jawahir Pakistan- and the upcoming industry show are two of several major efforts by the industry to strengthen industry linkages, domestically & internationally. The Magazine is intended to share latest updated research and information throughout all stakeholders the entire Gems and Jewelry value chain, from mine to market. --

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