TİKA Established a Semi-Precious Stone Processing Workshop in Peru

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a semi-precious stone processing workshop in Peru in cooperation with the Peruvian Association of Exporters (ADEX) and the National University of San Marcos in order to promote the production of semi-precious stones and their use in jewelry and other industries.

The workshop aims to promote the processing of standard and high-quality semi-precious stones and their use in jewelry and other industries, and to meet the human resources needs of small- and medium-sized enterprises in Peru.

Turkish specialists provided applied training to young people, craftspeople, and university students in Peru as part of the project. Furthermore, the workshop will provide applied training opportunities for the students of the Faculties of Geology, Mining, and Metallurgy at the National University of San Marcos.

The opening ceremony of the workshop was attended by Mr. Ali Rıza Özcoşkun, Turkey’s Ambassador to Lima; Mr. Erik Fischer, President of ADEX; Mr. Julio Pérez Alván, Second Vice President of ADEX; Ms. Rocío Mantilla, Chairman of the Jewelry and Goldsmith’s Committee of ADEX; Ms. Amora Carbajal Schumacher, Executive President of the Commission for Promotion of Export and Tourism (PromPerú); Ms. Jeri Ramón Ruffner, Rector of the National University of San Marcos; and TİKA officials.

In her speech at the ceremony, Jeri Ramón Ruffner, Rector of the National University of San Marcos, emphasized the importance of the support of Turkey and TİKA for this project, which is expected to promote the transfer of new technologies to the gemstone producers in Peru.

Julio Pérez Alván, Second Vice President of ADEX, said, “This project made a dream come true. Peru used to export semi-precious stones as raw materials and re-import them after they are processed in other countries. Thanks to this workshop, which will train young people and help them engage in production activities, the stones found in our country will be processed again in our country. We would like to thank Turkey and TİKA for their support.”

In his speech, ADEX’s President Fischer noted that the project embodied the great effort and cooperation of Turkey, a sister country, which responded to the enthusiasm and entrepreneurial power of ADEX.

Craftsman Jorge Rodríguez, one of the beneficiaries of the project, thanked TİKA for the equipment and training provided, and said, “Thanks to Turkey’s support, we are learning what we don’t know about gemstone processing. We knew the general properties of gemstones, but we didn’t know how to process them. I sincerely thank Turkey and TİKA for creating a new opportunity for us.”