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Lahore: 18 OCT 2024 The Gold and Gem Art Promotion Council of Pakistan (GGAPCP) has taken a significant step towards the digital future by launching the first e-commerce workshop for the gemstones and jewelry sector. In collaboration with Alibaba’s authorized channel partner, Web Excel, this initiative aims to propel the industry into the global e-commerce arena.
The workshop saw participation from business leaders across Lahore and other cities of Punjab. Speaking at the event, GGAPCP President and Chairman of the Lahore Division Sarafa & Jewellers Association, Muhammad Ahmed, expressed his pride in this milestone. "It is a great honor for GGAPCP to lead this initiative for the gemstone and jewelry sector," he said. He also highlighted the Council's previous achievements, such as the launch of the first website and magazine dedicated to gemstones and jewelry in 2000.
Muhammad Ahmed emphasized that this e-commerce initiative would push the sector into the global marketplace, providing access to over 200 countries through platforms like Alibaba. "We are now placing this sector in the most advanced era of e-commerce," he added.
To further support this endeavor, GGAPCP has established a dedicated e-commerce department, appointing Nasir Arif Janjua as the Director of E-commerce and Strategic Research.
In his address, Janjua provided a comparative analysis of e-commerce markets in neighboring countries, noting that China ranks first and India sixth, while Pakistan stands at 46th. He outlined the potential for Pakistan to accelerate its growth, particularly in the gemstone and jewelry sector, which has an annual global market potential of $30 billion. Janjua also discussed the opportunities for foreign direct investment (FDI) from China, which is interested in investing in this sector, thus creating a dual growth scenario for both e-commerce and FDI.
Shahbaz Siddiqui, CEO of Web Excel, welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of e-commerce for the gemstone and jewelry industry. He assured the business community of complete in-house services, from IT support to e-commerce solutions.
At the conclusion of the event, Siddiqui presented shields to Muhammad Ahmed and Nasir Arif Janjua in recognition of their contributions to the initiative.
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MOU between Faisalabad Women Chamber and Gold and Gems Art Promotion Council
LAHORE: The Gold and Gems Art Promotion Council (GGAPC) of Pakistan and the Faisalabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance and promote export activities, facilitate market access, and support member businesses in reaching international markets effectively.
Both organizations will also collaborate on organizing trade delegations, and participation in International Trade fairs, business forums and trade shows to promote exports. Both organizations will work together to identify and open new international markets for member businesses. GGAPC Pakistan will also exchange market intelligence, export trends and trade regulations.
Faisalabad Women Chamber of Commerce will help the GGAPC Pakistan through its project Pakistan Women Export Facilitation Centre (PWFC).
President Faisalabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Rubina Amjad Chairperson of Pakistan Women Export Facilitation Center inked the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations. At the same time, Muhammad Ahmad President of the Gold & Gems Art Promotion Council of Pakistan stamped the document on behalf of his organization.
Speaking on this occasion Shahida Aftab, President of the Faisalabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Rubina Amjad Chairperson of the Pakistan Women Export Facilitation Center, stated that many of our women wish to enter the gems and jewellery sector for export, and they require the Council's support. “Our members also seek training and awareness regarding the export process,” they added.
Rubina Amjad further noted that the Gold and Gems Art Promotion Council of Pakistan has taken a significant step by bringing the gems and jewellery sector into e-commerce, which will help our local sector gain international exposure and attract buyers worldwide.
Mohammad Ahmed, President of the Gold and Gems Art Promotion Council of Pakistan, mentioned that the Council will collaborate with the Women Chamber to design various training programs and participate in international gems and jewellery exhibitions, focusing specifically on increasing the number of women participants. He added that the local gems and jewellery sector currently faces many challenges, including the need for the government to withdraw SRO 760 and allow exporters to operate under SRO 266. He emphasized that SRO 760 has led to a complete halt in our jewellery exports, which benefits the neighbouring country, India.
Mohammad Ahmed also announced that e-commerce initiatives would soon be launched within the Faisalabad Women Chamber.
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SMEDA pledges full support to modernise Pakistan’s gems, jewellery sector
LAHORE: 3 February2025 The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Socrat Aman Rana has assured the representatives of Gems and Jewellery sector to utilize all available resources to modernize the country’s gems and jewellery sector according to the global standards.
He added that SMEDA will also collaborate with the association to develop programs for technical and financial consultations.
He was speaking during a meeting with a 15-member delegation from the Lahore Division Sarafa and Jewellers Association (LDS&JA) and the Gold and Gems Art Promotion Council of Pakistan (GGAPCP) led by Muhammad Ahmed the other day.
Socrat Aman Rana informed the delegation that the current government is giving the highest priority to the development of SMEs, more so than previous governments. He mentioned that funds have been allocated at both provincial and federal levels, which jewellers can access by fulfilling the necessary requirements. He further stated that SMEDA will provide strong support to make various training programs and easy loan schemes for jewellers, based on the association's recommendations, feasible for the gems and jewelry sector as well.
Muhammad Ahmed, Chairman of the Lahore Division Jewelers and Goldsmiths Association and President of the Gold and Gems Art Promotion Council of Pakistan, said that India is earning billions of dollars by adding value to its gems, while there are no international-standard labs available in our country, and the government should focus on this issue.
In response, SMEDA's CEO assured that SMEDA will offer full support to the association in establishing an international lab. He also emphasized the urgent need for marketing and branding of the gems and jewellery sector both domestically and internationally, and SMEDA will work with the association to design various programs in this regard.
During the event, the Council's Director of Strategic Research and E-commerce Wing, Nasir Arif Janjua, informed the SMEDA CEO that the council has already initiated the process of bringing the gems and jewellery sector into the domestic e-commerce market, with the first program already completed.
SMEDA CEO informed the delegation that SMEDA is designing a comprehensive e-commerce program that will be applicable to all sectors and the gems and jewellery sector can greatly benefit from this initiative. |
