Jewellery design development program in Thailand: EDB and NGJA to enhance skills of designers

Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA), the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) and with the assistance of Sri Lanka Embassy in Thailand organised a 10-day Advanced Jewellery Design Development Program at the Gem and Jewellery Institute of Thailand (GIT) from 2-12 June.

The gem and jewellery industry is the fifth largest foreign exchange earner and is identified as one of the key sectors by the EDB which could contribute to achieve set export targets. The annual foreign exchange generated from jewellery exports is in the range of $ 22 million during the past few years and it remains small in size compared to diamonds and gemstones. 

“One of the main factors hindering the progress of the industry is the lack of awareness on the benefits of using design as a differentiator in the international market. Therefore, it is necessary to upgrade the capacities and skills of the jewellery designers by providing international exposure to produce exquisite designs that have a global appeal,” stated EDB Chairperson and Chief Executive Indira Malwatte.

NGJA, the Government authority for the development of gems and jewellery industry also place high priority on developing the skills of jewellery designers. Chairman and CEO Asanka Welagedara stated that, “Unavailability of structured design education and the low recognition for the profession are factors that limit the younger generation to enter into this arena.” Therefore, he added, “It is vital to provide international exposure to our local designers.”

Given the above background, EDB together with the industry has carried out several jewellery design development programs to upgrade the capacities and skills of the jewellery designers and to provide exposure locally and internationally, especially training using latest state of art technology in jewellery designing. 

Since Thailand is considered as one of the best countries which conduct high standard jewellery design training programs, EDB with the assistance of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Thailand organised a tailor made advanced training program at the The Gem and Jewellery Institute of Thailand (GIT) which is one of the leading state owned training institutions. 10 local designers including eight semi-finalists of the Jewellery Design Competition 2015 and two Jewellery Designing Instructors from the Gem and Jewellery Research and Training Institute (GJRTI) are being trained at the GIT at present.

It is envisaged that this training will enhance and sharpen the skills of these local designers and give them exposure on design and market trends of the international market. “Also it will enable them to produce designs that have a global appeal which in return will make them international calibre designers who could contribute to increase exports and position Sri Lanka as a design jewellery manufacturing hub,” Malwatte further added.

Continuous implementation of these kinds of programs will broad base the pool of jewellery designers of international calibre in the country, develop the image of Sri Lanka as a country being capable of producing high end luxury jewellery and thereby to put Sri Lanka on the world map as major jewellery production centre. This will also increase the value addition to domestic raw materials by manufacturing high end jewellery and increase jewellery exports from Sri Lanka.