Mumbai: The Gem Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) announced the final representative from India to the 41st World Skills International, 2011 scheduled from October 5th to 8th, 2011 at London. At an event organized by GJEPC in association with the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) at the Indian Institute of Gems & Jewellery Campus, Andheri, Mumbai, Farah Ali Khan, one of India’s leading and prominent Jewellery Designer graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and conferred the finalist with this award. GJEPC in association with NSDC conducted training programmes and rigorous selection process for the National Team for ‘Jewellery’ skills. The skills included Setting, Refining, Cutting, Sawing, Filing, Drilling, Milling, Scrapping, Forming Wires, Soldering, Wire Drawing, Embossing, Polishing & Designing or any skill equivalent and related to jewellery making.

Speaking at the Occasion, Mr. Sanjay Kothari, Vice Chairman, GJEPC said, “GJEPC takes the onus to prepare and train the candidate strenuously over next few months to represent India at this global platform. We are confident that the winner will do India and the industry proud and bring accolades home. India is a predominant leader in diamonds, jewellery is our heritage, tradition and jewellery making is our legacy. India has in borne talent when it comes to jewellery making and we craft masterpieces around the globe” India is an established centre for diamond, Gems & Jewellery globally, it’s time to take the Nation and the industry to the next level and strive towards being recognised as a “Design Centre” in Jewellery making the world over”, continued Mr. Kothari.

Prasenjit Dari was announced the winner among 14 of India’s top talents who participated at the competition followed by Ruchika Navale as the runner up. Over the past 2 days, a jury consisting of Shimul Vyas from NID, Mahesh Rao, Ashok Minnawala, Pankaj Parekh, Venugopal, Parag Vyas & Col Kharbanda, who are undoubtedly the best voices in the industry deliberated over the results & announced this young talent from Kolkata as the rightful representative for India.

India has been invited for the first time to participate by the Amsterdam-based not-for-profit organization and over 150,000 visitors are expected to attend. Plans are progressing to make this the best World Skills Competition globally.WSI is the largest vocational skills competition globally. It takes place in a different country every two years and brings together over 1,000 young people, up to 22 years of age, from across the world to compete in a variety of skills ranging from welding to web designing.