Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan on October 16 received gemologists from 23 countries who have attended the 33rd International Gemological Conference (IGC 33) in Hanoi.

Doan was briefed on the outcomes of IGC 33, which, as Secretary General for IGC’s Executive Committee Jayshree Panjikar said, will open up more cooperation opportunities for Vietnamese and international scientists.

She thanked the scientists for cooperation in organising the conference, which enabled Vietnamese experts to share experience with foreign partners in gemology.

The leader deemed scientific reports at IGC 33 as a valuable and useful source of information, particularly gemstone assessment measures and exploitation management.

She also considered the conference a chance to popularise Vietnam as a country rich of natural resources, including gemstones, and help its gemstone industry to integrate into the region and the world.

At IGC 33 from October 13 – 16, participants mulled over 63 reports concerning the differentiation between natural and man-made gemstones, measures to assess and upgrade gemstone quality.

The event was jointly organised by the Vietnam National University in Hanoi and Doji, the only Vietnamese member of the International Coloured Gemstone Association.

Vietnam has reportedly discovered 73 mines and 160 sites containing precious and decorative stones and industrial minerals. Up to 50 mines and 31 sites of which contain ruby and sapphire.-VNA