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Gem lab to polish market quality
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| A gem dealer sorts through diamonds during a fair held in Phnom Penh last June. |
London-based Intertek Testing Services has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government to build a US$10 million laboratory to test the quality of gemstones in Cambodia.
The centre, scheduled to be built in Phnom Penh next year, will test precious stones and jewelry products sold in Cambodia in order to standardise quality for trade.
The government hopes the centre will improve confidence over the quality of the Kingdom’s stones after concerns were raised by traders.
Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh who attended the Friday signing ceremony, said international customers had recently criticised the quality of domestic products.
“The problems are not because Cambodian traders sold fake products, but because our sellers and buyers are not clear on [quality],” he said.
“The centre would elimination the lack of confidence between sellers and buyers.”
The minister hopes the centre will be up and running in time for June 2011, when a jewellery expo is set to be held in the capital city. Wolfhart Hauser chief executive officer of the Intertek Group said that the laboratory would help set quality standards in the sector, enabling the Kingdom to trade gems and jewelry in international markets – such as Europe and the United States.
“Through the investment, we hope Cambodia will have a high reputation in the gem stone sector in the future,” he said.
phnom penh post
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