The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC has received semi-precious stone samples from Indian stone mining giant Gem Group of companies.
Chairman of Gem Group, R. Veeramani, and the Director of Gem Granites, R. Gunasekaran, paid a courtesy call on Acting GGMC Commission, Newell Dennison on Thursday and made the donation.
Veeramani, who also chairs the Development Panel for Granite Industry within India’s Ministry of Industry, told Commissioner Dennison that his company has assisted other countries with the promotion and development of their stone industries.
“We help other countries in establishing the market and to promote their material,” Veeramani said. Dennison opined that establishing this collaboration would help to improve the GGMC’s lapidary section which remains underdeveloped and under promoted.
“Perhaps this is a good time to see how we can raise the profile and get the lapidary back on the proper footing,” Dennison said.
Verramani is credited with promoting India’s stone industry whose export market is valued around $2B. India has identified 200 varieties of stones and Gem Group has branded more than 70 varieties of those stones.
The Department of Public Information noted that a sample of these stones was presented to be displayed in the GGMC’s library. “Those varieties that they are going to leave with us will certainly put it on a different platform,” Dennison pointed out.
Gem Group is on a five-day scoping mission to explore investment opportunities in Guyana.
