The Power Of Transformation   The long-standing demand of the Indian gem and jewellery industry to have a dedicated gem and jewellery park was finally initiated. The India Jewellery Park project got underway with the laying of the foundation stone by Suresh Prabhu, union minister of commerce & industry and civil aviation, Government of India; Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister of Maharashtra; and Subhash Desai, minister of industries and mining, Government of Maharashtra, on March 5th.   Among the numerous benefits that the India Jewellery Park will bring is raising manufacturing standards to world-class levels and also creating affordable housing for its artisans under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana scheme. The ambitious project, spread over 21 acres, will hopefully generate an additional 1 lakh jobs and see an investment of I14,467 crore 2.09 billion. Read more about the India Jewellery Park in GJEPC News.   This month’s Cover Story focuses on the twin Hong Kong shows that welcomed a record number of over 90,000 buyers, an increase of 4 over last year. Our US-based correspondent Cynthia Unninayar met with several exhibitors who reported good sales and also examined the reasons why Hong Kong continues to be a big draw for the gem and jewellery industry.   Singapore-based special correspondent Richa Goyal Sikri travelled to Gemfields’ Kagem emerald mine in Zambia, where she witnessed how a well-run, transparent mining operation has positively impacted the local communities and the country at large. Read about her first-hand account in the Mining section.