With the “Gemstone Processing for Increasing Income Levels in Non-Agricultural Areas” project, implemented by the Konya Plain Project (KOP) Regional Development Administration, the aim is to provide additional income to the population living in mountainous/rural areas and non-agricultural zones, and to support their continued contribution to production without migrating away from their localities.

For this purpose, the “SÜKOP Gemstone Training and Application Workshop” was established within Selçuk University. Citizens from mountainous/rural regions who receive training at this central workshop are initially expected to generate income by producing gemstones in small workshops to be established in pilot districts. For each pilot district where a workshop will be set up, a specific line of work will be determined (such as prayer beads, necklaces, rings, watches, etc.). The provision of raw materials required for gemstone processing, as well as the marketing of the finished products, will be supported by Selçuk University.

The first group of trainees, consisting of citizens from the Taşkent district, completed their training at the central workshop within Selçuk University in May. Following this 15-day training, gemstone processing officially began on August 10, 2016, in the Taşkent workshop under the slogan “Stones Are Processed in Taşkent.” In this mini workshop, citizens will both continue receiving training and process gemstones to earn additional income. This practice will be expanded across the entire KOP region.

The second production workshop was established in Ermenek district of Karaman province, where citizens who completed their training have already started production in their locality.