36 Afghan nationals train in gems & jewellery in Pink City

JAIPUR: Thirty-six nationals of war-torn Afghanistan are undergoing advance training in gems and jewelry at the Indian Institute of Gems and Jewelry, Jaipur, with an aim to set-up units in their nation to revive their centuries-old craftsmanship in precious stones. The training is part of an MoU signed between the Union ministry of commerce and industries and the government of Afghanistan.
Janshir Khan, a resident of Jedalak province in Afghanistan which has the world largest reserves of lepis, is now competent in the art of crafting and marketing after the training. He informed that mining lepis is ancestral legacy dating back to 1000 years in his country. "The intense training has evoked a hope that this sector will revive in our country," Khan said.
Afghanistan has also huge reserves of precious stones like lapis-lazuli, emerald, ruby, kunzite, aquamarine, amethyst and topaz scattered all across. The country has been battling the rising trend of smuggling of gems and jewelry in absence of organized trading and manufacturing in neighbouring Pakistan.
Over the years, the numerous civil wars and fight among the war lords, Taliban rule and currently reeling under sectarian violence have almost created a scarcity of skilled manpower to deal in gems and jewellery in Afghanistan.
The country felt the need of reviving its centuries-old legacy and entered into an MoU with its strategic partner India.
In Jaipur, they were trained by industry experts from across the country. The group came in January 2013 on an intense six months course. Most of participants are young and below 30 years and have basic training in the business.
Their programme includes designing, identifying gems and stones, cutting, polishing, printing and computer training. The ministry will provide them all assistance until they have their own set-up.
Afghanistan's association with Jaipur doesn't stop here. The country's leading Jaipur jewellery circuit has a huge market for Afghanistan gem stones.
Professor Dhiraj Kumar, principal of IIGJ, informed that success of this programme has encouraged the Afghan government to send 25 officials in the federal ministry of mines and gems to undergo training. "Basically, we have give them training on identifying the gemstones and also impart them skills to market it," Kumar said.
The government of India is opening one institute of gems and jewellery in Afghanistan to produce a force of professionals to flourish the gems and jewelry business. Source said the move will build a strong tie-up with jewellers in Jaipur and will also stop the smuggling of gems stone in Pakistan. Afghanistan has been a strategic partner of India which delimits the territorial limits of Pakistan.