This is the 6th Indian Gemmological Seminar, of its kind taking place at Khajuraho; the place chosen obviously on account of its history.

Moreover, Panna Diamond Mines, annexed to it was an another magnet for us. In fact, all of us, being largely gemmologists, will have an urge to visit at least one diamond mine, which we have been seeing only books like Eric Bruton’s “Diamonds”. The coveted desire is going to be fulfilled on 18th instant.

IDI as Co-Convenor heartily complements the Forum of Indian Gemmologists for Scientific Studies President Mrs. Indira Vikamsey, Vice-President Shri Kapil Malhotrs and of course Shri K. T. Ramchandran and Dr. Jayshree Panjikar, who are the core organizers. Indian Diamond Institute (IDI) had been all along like a strategic partner in this mission and I, on behalf of IDI assure you that the tempo will continue to remain so in future.

The Management of IDI has been rather very positive on such activities. I am, hence, thankful, to the Governing Body of IDI for its active support in strengthening the show year by year. Further, I am also delighted to mention that, each year, IGS’s standards is picking up. We have reached upto this level only due to yours i.e., participants spontaneous response to our call as and when made, vide the FIG’s circular informing you about the next event. I am sure the next call for IGS-7 in 2005, will also receive, in the same way, best of your co-operation as we have been getting all along. In lieu, we would be jointly putting in, our best possible efforts to make the future events, more & more presentable and welcoming.

Now, lets look at our country’s position in the inter-national trade of diamond. Eleven out of Twelve diamonds found anywhere in the world are said to be cut & polished in India. India is the largest exporter of Cut & Polished small diamonds. Exports of gems and jewellery from India during the fiscal year 2003-2004, registered a performance of US$ 11,986.63 million (Rs. 55,000 crores) compared to US$ 9106.10 million (Rs. 44,231 crores) in 2002-2003, showing an increase of 26.00%.

As India integrates forward from the largest manu-facturing centre to the world’s largest trading centre, the increase in the share boosts the industry to a significant position in the world diamond market.

The export performance of gold jewellery sector as well recorded, a significant growth with total gold jewellery exports rising from US dollar 2544.89m in 2003-04 to US dollar 1512.49m last year i.e., 2002-03.

Automation is the need of the hour for the diamond industry today. The torch of the diamond industry has now passed on to the younger generation, who is well educated and exposed to the computer age. This is the era of technology, computers will have to be used both in administration as well as diamond processing.

Similarly, in the jewellery manufacturing area where the demand of a particular design is generally in mass, no longer ethnic produce of Indian jewellery holds good. Hence, machine cast manufacturing has come into Jewellery making in a big way at SEEPZ, Mumbai and other places like Chennai, Noida, Surat, Kolkatta, Bangalore, Jaipur, Rajkot etc.

Gemmology is an another area of today’s needs. Unless the science behind a stone is understood as to how the fire (brilliance) emerges, evaluation of a gemstone remains only a presumption, identification of diamonds or Coloured stones in a scientific manner assumes a great significance in today’s scenario.

Else, we will keep doing things in our own way which we may feel is right, but the end result would not be that encouraging, for the produce would be more of inventory keeping. Laser Raman Spectroscope at Indian Diamond Institute’s Gem testing Laboratory (IDI-GTL) demonstrates the highest degree of a gemmological equipment to be used for identification of natural/synthetic stones, including diamonds. LRS also helps in identifying the origin of a gemstone by analyzing its spectrum on the monitor. Of late, it is turning out to be as one of the most helping tool in identifying HPHT & synthetic diamonds.

Nevertheless, if experience of the past combined with knowledge dynamism and modern technology could be applied, Indian Gem & Jewellery industry can combat any kind of hassless and success will definitely continue to prevail.

In the present situation of the gem & jewellery trade in India and also abroad, role of the educational institute becomes very significant, Indian Diamond Institute (IDI) clearly understood this fact and as on day it is imparting full fledged education under one roof covering all the three major segments of the gem & jewellery outfit i.e., Diamonds, jewellery & gemmology. All its departments/labs are very well equipped with the state-of-the-art technology. Further, IDI also understands the forthcoming challenges of the gem & jewellery trade i.e. HPHT and synthetic diamonds and their identi-fication. It has already equipped its R&D with Diamond Sure & DiamondView, the two latest developed machines by DTC. Besides having LRS, IDI will also have Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) & many other gadgets required for a world class Gem Testing Laboratory.

You might have heard about a jewellery park coming at Surat. IDI’s role is again going to be very significant in developing a world class Jewellery design & HRD centre in the jewellery Park, Surat. Government of India & Government of Gujarat both have assigned IDI a great deal of job in bringing up this very jewellery park, particularly in providing with skilled manpower to the aforesaid jewellery park to enable the trade to earn valuable foreign exchange by way of value addition. Further, looking at the need of the R&D in the Gem & Jewellery sector, IDI too has planned to collaborate with international institutions of fame in very near future.

Apart, from its residential courses, to expand the know-ledge on diamond grading and coloured stones, IDI also trained a large number of jewellers at their door-steps simultaneously. In order to tune up the artisans/ managers of the diamond industry in line with the international system of diamond grading, IDI hasconducted a number of training programmes on grading in local languages. At present, diamond grading labs are very few by number, in India, hence, to meet huge demand of consumers for diamond grading reports, IDI has started providing consultancy in setting up diamond-grading laboratory (ies) in the various cities of India. As a result, in Delhi, one such Diamond Grading Laboratory (M/s. A. R. Diamond Grading Services Pvt. Ltd.) has already come up in technical collaboration with IDI.

In my opinion, IDI has a very wide & vital role to play for the entire Indian Gem & jewellery trade & Industry in the coming years and IDI on its part is fully committed to take on challenges posed to the country in this very field. In the Foreign Trade Policy for the year 2004-09 announced by DGFT, Government of India, you might have seen that none of the Indian Gem Testing Laboratories’ name appears in the policy, eligible to certify a diamond or coloured stone. IDI has represented very strongly with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to consider inclusion of the leading Testing labs affiliated to Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC)/ Government of India such as IDI, Gemmological Institute of India, Mumbai (GII), GTL-Jaipur, IGI-Delhi, etc. Hoping, this will get resolved in all probabilities in the next year as an amendment.

Lastly, I would like to mention about Shri Rajnish Vaish, who comes from M.P cadre, Indian Administrative Services. He is not only a Senior bureaucrat but also more than a qualified gemmologist. He has vast interest in the field. Hope, he has completed his research work and got through his Ph.D in the field. He has made his presence here, we are highly obliged. No sooner I spoke to him, he gave his consent for which I am highly grateful on behalf of all of you. Also, the co-operation extended by NMDC in allowing the visit to its diamond mines is highly appreciated.

Friends, study of gems is our life, we can’t do away with it. “ See Ahead, March & strive hard to reach the goal ”. Thank you all once again, for being here, on this auspicious occasion.