Gem and jewellery earnings top Rs 29 billion

Indunil Hewage

Total gem and jewellery export earnings during the first eight months in 2010 has topped Rs 29,955.7 million recording a nine percent growth as against Rs 27,475.2 million recorded in the same period in 2009.

National Gem and Jewellery Authority Deputy Director General Ajith Perera said the total gem export earnings during the first eight months in 2010 was Rs 5,047.7 million it was Rs 4,693.9 million during the first eight months in 2009.

Jewellery export earnings during the first eight months in 2010 rose to Rs 967.8 million, which is a 16 percent growth as against the Rs 854.5 million jewellery export value in the corresponding period in 2009. Diamond re-export and diamond jewellery export value rose to Rs 23,509.4 million and Rs 216.8 million respectively in the first eight months in 2010.

Diamond re-export and diamond jewellery export value during the first eight months recorded Rs 21,422.4 million and Rs 2,880.6 million respectively for the first eight months in 2009. Gevuda export value increased to Rs 88.6 million for the first eight months in 2010 as against Rs 71.3 million Gevuda export value recorded in the same period in 2009.

Export value of RIE (rough import and re-export) from January to August in 2010 plummeted to Rs 120.1 million, which is a 15 percent decrease and it was Rs 140.7 million during the same period in 2009.