'Gem and Jewellery industry should focus on employment generation'

Mumbai, Apr 26 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh has urged the gem and jewellery industry to focus more on employment generation.

He was speaking here after inaugurating the second two-day International Diamond Conference.

The conference was also attended by Mahrashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and a host of foreign delegates.

Mr Ramesh said there was a need for the industry to probe into the lacklustre performance last year.

Referring to the presence of ministers from Angola and Botswana during the conference, he said the Union government's policy was to directly deal with suppliers from abroad.

''India offers technical skills and human resource training facilities to aid Africa's gem and jewellery trade. India's calling card is not dollars but training people and making the trade more inclusive,'' he said.

''We wish to become a partner in African trade and add value in your countries,'' Mr Ramesh told the African ministers present at the conference.

The minister assured the diamond industry of the government's assistance.

Mr Ramesh also emphasised that the industry has entered a new phase and that there was a need to bring professionalism rather than being a family-dominated trade.

The conference was attended by Joint Minister in Angola government Anginaldo Jaime, Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Botswana Mr Kedkilwe.

UNI