The Gemmological Institute of India, a project of The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) along with the National Gemstone Testing Center (NGTC, China), The Gem & Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT), and China Gems & Jade Exchange (CGE) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a Strategic Cooperation Agreement for Asia-Pacific Gemstone and Technology Standardisation Alliance (AGA).

The meeting of the institutes took place alongside the ongoing HK jewellery show at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre.

The MoU represents a significant step forward in the cooperation between GII and NGTC that began in 2017 and grew into an alliance that was aimed at promoting developments of standards, evolving harmonised procedures, standardisation of laboratories with internationally acceptable protocols etc., and with the final goal of formation of the AGA.

GII and NGTC are two of the oldest institutes in Asia and are providing much needed formal training in Gemmology, gem testing & certification and carrying out R&D in gemmology and jewellery. Subsequently, GIT and CGE were also invited to participate in the deliberations.

GII and GJEPC are also working on a similar process of standardisation of all G&J institutes within India that are associated with the Council.

A day prior to the signing of the MoU, the two organisations along with CIBJO, GIT, GII, CGL, DFHK, GHK and HKIG also hosted an Open Forum meeting with three sessions covering 1. Challenges of International Trade, 2. Uniform Rules and International Jewellery Industry and 3. Prospects for International Standardisation in Asia-Pacific and China.

Shri Bakul R Mehta, Chairman. GII spoke on “The challenges of International Jewellery Trade” and Dr. M.D. Sastry and Dr. A.V.R. Reddy of GII participated as experts in various panel discussions.  

Various areas of current concern such as trade discipline, consumer confidence, technical barriers to trade, laboratory standards, gemmological research, harmonisation of protocols, protection of consumer interest and specific measures were discussed. 

Pic caption: At the MoU signing ceremony for formation of AGA (from l) Dr. AVR Reddy (Chief Coordinator GII), Mr. Sumed Prasongpongchai, Dy. Director (GIT), Dr. Yang Lixin, Director- Standardisation Office (NGTC) and Mr. Chen Yu, Executive Vice President (CGE), in presence of several other dignitaries including CIBJO president Gaetano Cavalieri and Mr Bakul Mehta, chairman, GII