Britain-Burma Society Lecture: Myanmar’s Gemstone Sector

Myanmar’s Gemstone Sector: Key Issues, Challenges and Opportunities by EMMA ERWIN

on Tuesday 19th February 2019 at 7.00pm onwards
at the Medical Society of London, 11 Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, London, W1G 9E

Myanmar is blessed with an abundance of some of the highest quality and most diverse gemstones on earth. In particular, its prized ‘pigeon’s blood’ rubies from the Mogok Valley, and jade from the mountains of Kachin State, are globally renowned. It is estimated that up to 90% of the world’s rubies and jade come from Myanmar, and the global demand for these precious stones continues to grow.

However, there has been a complete lack of transparency about how the gems are mined and make their way from mine to market. Myanmar’s gemstones are associated with smuggling, corruption, tax evasion, fuelling conflict, and weak governance frameworks and institutions, as well as environmental and social destruction. The country has received little benefit from its precious natural resources, yet there is significant potential for the sector to contribute substantially to the Myanmar’s economic and social development.

There have been a number of efforts over the past few years, some of which are still underway, to address many of the key challenges associated with the sector. However, the extent to which these reform efforts may have any meaningful impact and lasting benefit remains to be seen.

In this talk Emma Irwin will provide an overview of Myanmar’s gemstone sector, including the current context, and key issues and challenges from mine to market. She will also outline the main efforts for reform and opportunities for positive change.
Emma is an international consultant with 20 years’ experience working with clients in over 18 countries on mining and gemstone sector governance, transparency, responsibility, sustainability and social/community impact management. Emma recently moved back to the UK after living in Yangon for 5 years, where she worked with the government, private sector and civil society on gemstone sector reforms and transparency, among other issues. She is also a qualified gemmologist, and has a BA in Social Anthropology and a Masters in International Studies and Diplomacy, both from SOAS, University of London.

Refreshments: samosas, biscuits, tea, coffee and juice from 7.00pm onwards.
Lecture begins at 7.30pm

ADMISSION £10.00 (£5.00 for students)

Please pay by bank transfer: NatWest Bank Account No. 13199226. Sort Code: 56-00-03, OR by cheque to: Barbara Brown, Membership Secretary,
202 Croham Valley Road, South Croydon, Surrey, CR2 7RB.

RSVP with confirmation of method of payment to: minnthameebrown@secretary.net