On February 20, 2023, Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd. held a Virtual Inauguration at the HK Hub in Surat, Gujarat, India, to mark the virtual unveiling of the GIA & IGI Lake. The creation of these lakes is a gesture of gratitude to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) for their support and Honour to Savjibhai Dholakia, Founder & Chairman of Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd., at the 30th Annual IDCA Las Vegas Gala Dinner in 2022, where he received the Industry Leadership Award.
GIA Lake and IGI Lake were designed to conserve rainwater, recharge the groundwater table, and support the local ecosystem in a sustainable way, aligning with the organization's commitment to ethical and sustainable practices in the gem and jewellery industry. The GIA Lake has a total area of 31,700 square meters and can hold up to 76 million liters of water, while the IGI Lake has a total area of 23,202 square meters and can hold up to 60 million litres of water.
The virtual unveiling ceremony was attended by the top management of Hari Krishna Exports, GIA, and IGI. From Hari Krishna, Savjibhai Dholakia, Founder & Chairman, Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd., along with all the partners and top employees, were present at the event. From the GIA side, the ceremony was attended by Susan Jacques, President and CEO at GIA, Pritesh Patel, COO at GIA, Sriram Natarajan, MD at GIA India, Ms. Johanna Levy, VP - ESG at GIA, Apoorva Deshingkar, Sr. Director Education & Market Development at GIA, Jillian Wolk, VP - Strategic Initiatives, Kelly McQuage, Associate Counsel at GIA, and other board members and team members of GIA. From IGI, the virtual unveiling ceremony was attended by Tehmasp Printer, MD at IGI India, Kareena Shahani, GM Laboratories, Sukanya Sen, GM Marketing, and other board members and team members of IGI.
Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd. is a company dedicated to social welfare and environmental conservation activities. The GIA Lake & IGI Lake project highlights the importance of sustainable practices in the industry. The Dholakia Foundation, Hari Krishna's philanthropic arm, has already contributed to the environment by creating 111 lakes in the drought-prone Saurashtra region, planting 2.5 million trees, and ensuring the protection of Mother Earth.
The unveiling of the GIA Lake & IGI Lake is a significant achievement that directly promotes several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG13 (climate action), SDG14 (life below water), and SDG15 (life on land). By promoting sustainable practices and encouraging a sustainable future, the organization is working towards achieving the SDGs and making a positive contribution to the well-being of the planet and future generations.
Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd. takes pride in this achievement and hopes that the unveiling of the GIA Lake & IGI Lake inspires others in the industry to embrace sustainable practices and work towards a better tomorrow. The organization looks forward to sharing this experience with others in the industry and encouraging a sustainable future for generations to come.
Founder & Chairman of Hari Krishna Exports, Savjibhai Dholakia highlighted his dedication to positively impacting the environment and society: "I am 60 years old and I have 40 years left with me. I need to do 400 years of work in 40 years, and that's why I am committed to taking meaningful actions to protect our planet and promote sustainable practices in the industry." "Developing lakes under the name of GIA and IGI is a privilege to me," he added. "It's an opportunity to show our commitment to ethical and sustainable practices and positively impact the environment and local communities. I am proud to see the positive results of our efforts, and I look forward to continuing this important work."