The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) in collaboration with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Investment Promotion Unit organized a seminar for gems and jewellery companies in Lahore on April 22. During the seminar, prospect of foreign investment in Pakistan gems and jewellery sector was discussed. Stakeholders from jewellery designing, manufacturing, retailing, Gold Art Promotion Council-Pakistan, Gems & Jewelry Development Company, and other related academia attended the seminar. Mr Roberto Schuller, Head of the Investment Promotion Unit, UNIDO, Islamabad, presented plan for facilitating cooperation between Pakistani and Italian gems and jewellery companies and assisting local companies to the Italian credit line of 7.75 million Euros.
Mr Roberto proposed to facilitate participation of a Pakistani delegation in Vicenza Fair, Italy in January 2011. He offered to prepare a catalogue, comprising sector overview, potential for Italian investors in gems and jewellery sector and profiles of prominent Pakistani companies. The catalogue will be shared among large number of Italian gems and jewellery companies. The IPU head also offered individual business meetings for each Pakistani company and its potential Italian partner, during the Vicenza Fair. The IPU has identified five priority sectors, including gems and jewellery, marble and granite, leather, agro food, alternative energy and handicrafts.
The participants of the seminar appreciated SMEDA-UNIDO IPU services and expressed the hope that the IPU technical assistance will open a gateway for local companies to gain exposure to Italian market and promote business ties between the two countries.
Muhammad Ahmad, President, Gold Art Promotional Council of Pakistan, contacted Mr Roberto and informed him that their around 50 associations’ members are interested in IPU services. The GAPC-Pakistan requested the IPU chief to visit council’s regional office in Lahore and conduct a detailed seminar for interested companies. Haji Muhammad Afzal, President, Lahore Division Sarafa & Jewellers Association, Syed Masood Ali, Secretary General, Gold Art Promotion Council-Pakistan, Muhammad Anwar Bajwa, Muhammad Alamgir and Malik Muhammad Tahir.