PESHAWAR, Nov 26: The NWFP Minister for Industries and Mineral Development, Owais Ahmad Ghani, inaugurated the Gems & Gemological Institute here on Monday— the first of its kind to be set up in the province.

He said the institute would help boost the economy of the province, adding that, by producing skilled manpower, it would help the country earn more foreign exchange.

Referring to the issuance of mineral licence, he said the involvement of the private sector had streamlined the process.

He said the same method had been adopted in the workers welfare board, where a tripartite board of government officials, industrialists and workers had been constituted, which benefited the working class.

He advised investors to identify areas, which could help the province boost its economy.

Referring to the leather business in the province, Mr Ghani said yhat, like the gems industry, the former had also great potential of export.

He said that last year, total earning from leather export amounted to $ 68 million. However, 40 per cent of leather was produced by NWFP but its share in national trade was less than 2 per cent, he added.

He said Central Asia offered a vast market for leather and guaranteed the success of leather export.

He said efforts were being made to set up a leather and garment institute, and asked the private sector to help the government in this regard.