Mumbai: The Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery (IIGJ), an educational project of the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) celebrated its 11th Convocation Ceremony in the presence of Mr. Vinod Tawde (Minister for Higher & Technical Education, Government of Maharashtra), GJEPC Chairman Mr. Praveenshankar Pandya and Ms Vaishali Banerjee (MD India, Platinum Guild of India) amongst others.
IIGJ Chairman Mr. Kirit Bhansali formally introduced IIGJ Mumbai and its achievements to the Chief Guest Mr. Tawde. He further mentioned The Gems & jewellery industry contributes over 6 % to India`s GDP and jewellery education should have its rightful place to became a mainstream career option for hundreds & thousands of aspiring students. He further requested honourable minister to Introduce Gems & jewellery as a formal course curriculum in universities.
In his address at the Convocation Ceremony, Mr. Tawde acknowledged the request of Mr. Bhansali and considering the potential of this Sector said that the State Government will soon undertake the process of recognizing the IIGJ as a part of Mumbai University. In this context, the Minister suggested the Gems and Jewellery fraternity to evolve its own local relevance courses for the graduate students and avoid copying study syllabus from overseas institutions. “Create an authentic syllabus and undertake degree courses with local relevance,” he said. Mr. Tawde also asked the management of the IIGJ to have 10-12 difference courses and take this institution to the level of IIT or IIM to compete with peers in the international institutions.
GJEPC Chairman Mr. Praveenshankar Pandya said that Indian Jewellery trade and industry needs to have modernized factories and upgrade manufacturing Jewellery to world standard to become the number one jewellery exporter in the world. India is already the world leader in Diamonds and Colour stones exports and it has to achieve numero uno status in jewellery exports too. Mr Pandya also emphasized the need to enhance the art of designing and manufacturing and for this purpose, needed support from the Maharashtra Government in terms of allocation of land to develop Jewellery Park as well as Gems and Jewellery University somewhere in Navi Mumbai.
