Mr. Sanjoy Ghosh (Head of Institute, IIGJ), Mrs. Namita Pandya (Convener, IIGJ), Ms. Vaishali Banerjee (MD India, Platinum Guild India), Mr. Praveenshankar Pandya (Chairman, GJEPC), Shri. Vinod Tawde (Hon’ble Minister of Higher & Technical Education Department, Government of India), Mr. Kirit Bhansali (Chairman, IIGJ), Mr. Snehal Choksey (Director, Shobha Shringar), Mr. Vasant Mehta (Former Chairman, IIGJ), Ms. Veena Wadkar (ED, Operations GJEPC), Mr. Nirmal Kumar Barmecha (Director, IIGJ), with the graduating batch of 2017 at the 11th Convocation Ceremony of Indian Institute of Gems & Jewellery on 9th December 2017

IIGJ Chairman Shri Kirit Bhansali formally introduced IIGJ Mumbai and its achievements to the Chief Guest Shri Tawde. He further mentioned The Gems & jewellery industry contributes over 6 % to India`s GDP and jewellery education should have its rightful place to became a mainstream career option for hundreds & thousands of aspiring students. He further requested honourable minister to Introduce Gems & jewellery as a formal course curriculum in universities.

In his address at the Convocation Ceremony, Shri Tawde acknowledged the request of Chairman IIGJ Shri. Kirit Bhansali and considering the potential of this Sector said that the State Government will soon undertake the process of recognizing the IIGJ as a part of Mumbai University. In this context, the Minister suggested the Gems and Jewellery fraternity to evolve its own local relevance courses for the graduate students and avoid copying study syllabus from overseas institutions. “Create an authentic syllabus and undertake degree courses with local relevance,” he said. Shri Tawde also asked the management of the IIGJ to have 10-12 difference courses and take this institution to the level of IIT or IIM to compete with peers in the international institutions.

GJEPC Chairman Shri Praveenshankar Pandya said that Indian Jewellery trade and industry needs to have modernized factories and upgrade manufacturing Jewellery to world standard to become the number one jewellery exporter in the world. India is already the world leader in Diamonds and Colour stones exports and it has to achieve numero uno status in jewellery exports too. Mr Pandya also emphasized the need to enhance the art of designing and manufacturing and for this purpose, needed support from the Maharashtra Government in terms of allocation of land to develop Jewellery Park as well as Gems and Jewellery University somewhere in Navi Mumbai.

Mr. Praveenshankar Pandya (Chairman, GJEPC) and Shri. Vinod Tawde (Hon’ble Minister of Higher & Technical Education Department, Government of India) at the 11th Convocation Ceremony of Indian Institute of Gems & Jewellery on 9th December 2017

Shri. Vinod Tawde (Hon’ble Minister of Higher & Technical Education Department, Government of India) lighting the lamp with Mr. Praveenshankar Pandya (Chairman, GJEPC), Mr. Sanjoy Ghosh (Head of Institute, IIGJ), Mrs. Namita Pandya (Convener, IIGJ), Ms. Vaishali Banerjee (MD India, Platinum Guild India), Mr. Kirit Bhansali (Chairman, IIGJ), Mr. Snehal Choksey (Director, Shobha Shringar), Mr. Vasant Mehta (Former Chairman, IIGJ), Ms. Veena Wadkar (ED, Operations GJEPC) at the 11th Convocation Ceremony of Indian Institute of Gems & Jewellery on 9th December 2017