SHRI DEVENDRA FADNAVIS INAUGURATES GJEPC PROMOTED GEM & JEWELLERY TRAINING & SKILLING CENTRE IN RATNAGIRI

14h March 2024

Shri Devendra Fadnavis (Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra) and Shri Uday Samant (Hon’ble Minister of Industries) inaugurated a gem and Jewellery training & skilling center in Ratnagiri. This initiative has been spearheaded by the apex trade body Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) sponsored by the Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry

As India is being positioned as a design driven Jewellery manufacturing hub, the purpose of the Centre is to provide a platform for new talent to thrive and grow, as well as preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Maharashtra’s rich legacy in handcrafted and bespoke jewellery. This Centre is one more way in which GJEPC has been preserving and maintaining India’s design capital and its craftsmanship and creativity.

The Training and Skilling Centre in Ratnagiri is poised to equip locals in the region with industry-specific skills, thereby creating employment opportunities and fostering economic growth in the region. Through comprehensive training programs, the centre aims to empower individuals with expertise in different aspects of jewellery manufacturing, preserving cultural heritage, promoting entrepreneurship, and enhancing overall community development in Ratnagiri.

Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said: “We are building India’s most advanced Gems & Jewellery Park in Navi Mumbai in association with GJEPC. This first-of-its-kind Jewellery Park will create more than 1 lakh jobs in the State and we want to extend this opportunity to people in different parts of Maharashtra. Through GJEPC’s CSR arm, we are launching the Training & Skill Centre in Ratnagiri. I would like to congratulate GJEPC for this initiative, which have broadened the employment opportunities for the young and talented from different parts of the State. Gem & Jewellery contributes to a major chunk of exports from Maharashtra State and we want to nurture talent.”

Shri Uday Samant, Hon’ble Minister of Industries of Maharashtra, said, “Maharashtra is No. 1 in gem & jewellery business and such initiatives will help retain its leadership position. The Ratnagiri training and skilling centre will be opened in two months’ time, and 1,500 students who enrol in the first three years at the institute will get assured employment in the upcoming India Jewellery Park in Navi Mumbai.”

Shri Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC expressing gratitude towards the Maharashtra Govt. said, “I thank the Maharashtra Govt. for allocating the space and building to set the Training and Skilling Centre in Ratnagiri at free of cost. The gem and jewellery export industry, currently valued at USD 40 billion, plays a pivotal role in India’s economy, contributing 9% to the country’s merchandise exports and employing over 4.3 million people. Considering the growing global demand, the industry will require more skilled manpower and talent to drive the industry’s vision of achieving USD 75 billion exports by 2030, and setting up Training and Skilling Centre in Ratnagiri, is an effort to this goal.”

Shri Nirav Bhansali, Convener, National Exhibitions, GJEPC said, “Maharashtra has always been in the forefront of the gems and jewellery business and now we want to make it a leader in design, artistry and innovation. The commencement of the newly commissioned training and skilling Centre will have a profound impact on identifying and nurturing existing as well as new talent from the Ratnagiri district. Investing in the skills and talent of the local workforce will lay the foundation for a brighter future not just for the industry but for the community as a whole.”

The Ratnagiri Training and Skilling Centre will offer courses covering various aspects of jewellery making, including filing & assembling, metal setting, polishing & finishing, casting machine operation, and computer-aided design for jewellery. Upon completion of these programs, certified trainees will gain access to employment opportunities in gem and jewellery manufacturing companies across Maharashtra and beyond. Soft skills training will also be provided to enhance their employability in the industry.

This initiative underscores GJEPC’s commitment to fostering skill development and innovation in the gem and jewellery sector. By investing in the skills and talents of the local workforce, GJEPC aims to pave the way for a brighter future for the industry and the community in Ratnagiri.

About The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC):

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), set up by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India (GoI) in 1966, is one of several Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) launched by the Indian Government, to boost the country’s export thrust, when India’s post-Independence economy began making forays in the international markets. Since 1998, the GJEPC has been granted autonomous status. The GJEPC is the apex body of the gems & jewellery industry and today around 10,000 members in the sector.  With headquarters in Mumbai, GJEPC has Regional Offices in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Surat and Jaipur, all of which are major centres for the industry. It thus has a wide reach and is able to have a closer interaction with members to serve them in a direct and more meaningful manner. Over the past decades, GJEPC has emerged as one of the most active EPCs and has continuously strived to both expand its reach and depth in its promotional activities as well as widen and increase services to its members.