Revered for his outstanding achievements in business, contributions to the gemstone and jewellery trade, and extensive philanthropic efforts, KGK Group Chairman Navrattan Kothari has been chosen as 2021 recipient of the highest accolade of the Jewellery World Awards (JWA) – the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Letitia Chow, chairperson and founder of JWA at events organiser Informa Markets Jewellery, commented, “Since the 1960s, Kothari has been working tirelessly not just to elevate the KGK Group but also to inspire excellence in the jewellery and gemstone trade through his roles in key industry organisations. A role model for the younger generation, he is a visionary whose business acumen is matched only by his passion for giving back to society.”

Building on his family’s gemstone trading business, Kothari spearheaded efforts to explore opportunities in coloured gemstone and diamond jewellery manufacturing in the 1960s – laying the groundwork for the company’s phenomenal transformation. KGK subsequently became a global conglomerate, covering the entire spectrum of the business from mining to sourcing, manufacturing, distribution and retail.

“I would like to sincerely thank JWA for bestowing upon me such an honour. It truly encourages me as well as members of the KGK team to work harder towards reaching our goals and pursuing initiatives that could positively impact the business landscape, the environment and society. Rest assured that we will remain committed to developing sustainable practices and improving the lives of those in need,” shared Kothari.

He is also being lauded for his compassionate response to Covid-19. Despite the pandemic’s substantial impact on many industries, Kothari retained the services of the group’s entire workforce. He also allocated resources to feed more than 70,000 people at the height of the crisis and donated oxygen compressors to the Rajasthan state government.

These align with Kothari’s long history of humanitarian work, which includes the construction of Northern India’s largest cancer hospital in 1997, providing educational assistance to more than 33,000 students in Rajasthan and fulfilling the wishes of terminally ill children from around the globe.

Kothari is also actively involved in industry associations such as the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, where he has been a member of the managing committee for the last 20 years. He was also founder of the Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery in Jaipur, where he served as chairman for four years.

JWA will officially present Kothari’s award in a highly anticipated gala dinner to be held at JGT Dubai (Jewellery, Gem & Technology Dubai) on February 21, 2022. JGT Dubai is a joint premium exhibition by Informa Markets Jewellery – the world’s largest B2B jewellery fairs organiser – and Italian Exhibition Group SpA (IEG).

JWA 2021 is supported by Headline Partners Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group and Shanghai Diamond Exchange, and Honoured Partners KGK Group and Guangdong Land (Shenzhen) Co Ltd.