The Jewellery World Awards (JWA) has awarded KGK Group Chairman Navrattan Kothari with the Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2021.

He was presented with the award on February 21 in Dubai by Ahmed Sultan bin Sulayem, who is the Executive Chairman of DMCC.

Kothari has been in the jewellery business for a long time, and is responsible for expanding his family's gemstone trading business and transforming it into a worldwide conglomerate that encompasses the whole spectrum of mining, sourcing, production, distribution, and retailing of colour gemstones, diamonds, and jewellery.

On receiving the honour, Kothari said, “We constantly evolved ourselves and our business to transform the system in which business itself is conducted. Receiving recognition from JWA will surely be an actuator to move forward with greater determination and momentum, keeping the identified philosophy and goals in view. It further encourages us to remain conveners for progressive discussion and collaborators for winning partnerships, resulting in positive business as well as social and environmental impact at scale.”

Speaking on the occasion, Sanjay Kothari, Vice-Chairman, KGK Group, said, “Carrying forward this legacy is a huge responsibility but I feel proud and honoured to share the name with countless laurels attached to it. My father’s zeal inspires all of us to achieve the benchmarks set by our ancestors. It was a very emotional moment for all of us to witness the history in making. We are determined to follow in his footsteps and taking the name to next level is our ambition.”

Sandeep Kothari, Managing Director, KGK Group, said, “His legacy will be carried forward for generations. He lives by the saying ‘You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great’, and this is now a part of our lives as well. We hope that this award will immortalize all his contributions to the community and the industry.”