By Ben Kangwa
Recently, Gemstone Marketing
and Consultancy Limited (GMC), a Zambian family owned company, charmed American
Gemstone and Jewelry buyers at an exhibition held at the Zambia Embassy in Washington
DC on the 3rd December, 2011
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| Rashmi Sharma (MD GMC Ltd) |
The Embassy hosted the show
as part of its trade promotional activities as well as the enhancement of commercial activities
between Zambia and the USA
In welcoming over 75 invited
guests who attended the exhibition, Charge D’affaires at the Embassy, Mr.
Alfred Chioza alluded to the fact that the show signified the ongoing efforts
aimed at building trade between the USA and Zambia in the spirit of the African
Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
He stated that such an exhibition
would further propel the relationship between Zambia and the USA to much higher
levels and for direct benefit between the two countries
“This event will boost
business ties for the benefit of the two peoples,” he added.
In addition to the gemstones and jewelry on
display, the event presented an opportunity to promote to Americans the myriad
business and tourism opportunities available in Zambia.
First Secretary (Tourism) Mrs.
Margaret Makungo made available information on tourism opportunities in Zambia
while other information on business and investment opportunities available were
systematically distributed to the invited guests.
GMC Managing Director Rashmi
Sharma first provided a short video that showed the transformation of a Zambian
gemstone, from the moment that it is mined from the earth until as a finished
product of an exquisite piece of jewelry. She also made a power-point
presentation about Zambia’s place in the gemological world.
After the video show and
power-point presentation Ms Rashmi Sharma noted that Zambia has begun to gain
world recognition as a supplier of Gemstones.
She said Zambia has the
largest deposit of tourmalines, aquamarine and amethyst in Africa as well as
the second largest deposits of emeralds in the world.
Ms Sharma said the gemstone sector has an
export potential greater than the current value of copper and cobalt exports.
She told the invited guests
that her company, which has been in operation since 1992 and has almost a thousand clients in the US is
one of only two companies in Zambia engaged in all the vertically integrated
fields of the gemstone business.
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| Zambian Gemstones |
Ms Sharma said GMC mines
blue-green and pink Tourmaline gemstones and Aquamarine gemstones at the
Kumanga Mine in the Mkushi gemstone belt.
“The company also stocks
Emerald, Amethyst, Garnets (Rhodolite and Spessartite), Sapphire, Tanzanite,
Quarts and many more. With the exception of Tanzanite and Diamonds that are
used as decorative accessories in its jewelry, GMC sources all its stones from
Zambia,” she added
GMC employs approximately 40
Zambians who cut and polish gemstones and manufacture top quality jewelry in
gold and silver apart from government approved valuers of gemstones.
It has three retail outlets
in Lusaka that operate under the name “The Jewel” which are located at the
InterContinental Hotel, Manda Hill Shopping Center and at the Kenneth Kaunda
International Airport.
Ms. Sharma also said the
company already exports to individuals and leading gemstone houses in America,
Asia, Europe and Africa. She added that there was a potential growing market
for the Zambian gemstone in China as well.
She has traveled widely to
spread the word about the quality of Zambian gemstones and jewelry. Every year,
Rashmi undertakes private visits to the United States and Europe during which
she relies on her network of friends and business associates to host by
“invitation only” shows.
During the 2011 AGOA Forum
Trade Exhibition at Mulungushi International Conference Center, GMC organized
an exhibition stand in the Zambia Pavillion. The exhibition attracted a huge
number of international visitors.
“Our stand had a string of
foreign visitors every-day. They were amazed at the quality of Zambian
gemstones. Some of them could not believe that the polished and finished products
were all local from Kalomo, Mkushi and from the North Western Province,” she
said.
No wonder US Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton had this to say while delivering remarks at the launch of
the Zambian-American Chamber of Commerce on June 11, 2011, “…..Where is Rashmi
Sharma? There she is. She and her brother used the AGOA trade preferences to
expand their local jewelry business all the way to the United States.
Now, that’s good for Zambia,
but it is also good for American consumers who want high quality, beautiful
jewelry, and some examples of which I saw yesterday at the exhibition at the
convention center.”
The
author is Press Secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in
Washington DC
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