The sector has been able to consolidate the growth momentum even during the first four months of 2011 by recording a healthy growth rate of 10.8 percent, Sri Lanka Export Development Board Chairman and Chief Executive Janaka Ratnayake said.
Design plays a major role in the international jewellery market, especially in the high end segment. Therefore as a high quality jewellery manufacturing destination, Sri Lanka has to pay more attention to designs when catering to the international market.
Ratnayake said although considerable efforts have been made in upgrading the design skills of local designers, there still exists a vacuum in design development. Therefore it is important to develop the standards of the local jewellery designers, so that Sri Lanka will be able to produce world class jewellery and compete effectively in the international market.
The EDB has obtained the services of Professor Roger Lain Millar an international Expert in designing jewellery to conduct this programme. Professor Millar is the lecturer-creative process and designs for production at Cardonald College Glassgow.
The EDB has identified gem and jewellery sector as a key product sector which could be a US$ 1 bn export industry by 2015 and contribute markedly towards achieving the overall export target of US $ 15 bn by 2015 Ratnayake said.
The designers trained in this programme will be encouraged to take part in the jewellery design competition which will be organized in conjunction with FACETS Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery show in 2012 and winners will be provided international exposure which will further enhance their design capabilities.
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