File picture of Shilpa Shetty displaying jewellery

Sept. 23: The first gemstone cutting and training centre in the region will make its debut in the city tomorrow.

Ministry of small scale industries (SSI) secretary B.S. Minhas will inaugurate the state-of-the-art training centre tomorrow at the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE).

A guidebook in Assamese Swa Niyoyanar Sandhanat Udyamita, authored by faculty member J.C. Kalita, on setting up a small enterprise will also be released at the inauguration ceremony.

W.R. Singh, associate faculty member of IIE and co-ordinator of technology propagation cell, said equipment has already arrived from Jaipur-based Centre for Development of Gems and Jewellery. He said the course will emphasise on practical exposure to pave the way for setting up individual enterprises.

The IIE is also starting a comprehensive entrepreneurship development programme to help enhance the skill of those involved in the gems and jewellery trade. Craftsmen who had to go to cities outside Assam for advanced training would benefit from the programme.

Singh said the centre has already generated enthusiasm and curiosity among people engaged in the gem and jewellery business.

He added that besides skill development training, the centre would assist in development of market links, technology transfer and upgradation and provide market intelligence to potential entrepreneurs.

Singh said large quantities of uncut precious and semi-precious stones like ruby, blue sapphire were being traded informally between Myanmar and India via Manipur, Nagaland, Assam and other neighbouring states.

A number of local people were involved in the trade of these gemstones, which ultimately landed up in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The stones, cut and polished in the Rajasthani capital, fetch a great price in the international market.

?The traders of the region have the prospects of commanding a higher price if the cutting and polishing can be done locally. The region also offers suitable climatic conditions for the industry. The cost of labour, too, is comparatively lower. The only thing lacking is locally trained skilled artisans,? Singh added.

Singh said in that case exporters would prefer to buy the finished gems directly from the Northeast due to lower selling price.

?The region also has a wide array of traditional jewellery designs, which could also be developed considering the market requirement. The ultimate effects of such exercise will be generation of employment and economic development of the region,? he added.