Gold industry have flourished lately, to cover about 90% of the market needs, while it used to cover only 10% in the past.

Through a 56 gold factories being established in Hebron, the city now manufactures around 60% of the gold industry in Palestine, the oldest and largest factory of these is Al-Qawasmi Factory.

Palestine Economic Gate

At the center of the ground floor of Al-Qawasmi gold factory entrance, sets that solemn man on his chair, to receive his visitors and customers, as well as to manage the plant, which managed in few years to occupy the pioneering position among gold factories in Palestine.

His white hair indicates the features of his old age, which is being hidden by his vitality and calmness, while his fingertips embodies the taste and art in the formulation of jewelry, later on the quill will be transformed to another fingertips to inject more younger bloods in his big factory.

Thoughtful Selection

Ahmad Qawasmi, the owner of the gold factory in Hebron did not choose this specialization randomly, as after completing the secondary school stage; he flared up his mind to search for a workmanship that puts him in a short time on the road of success and leadership.

Eventually, he found out that goldsmith is the special industry that amuses him. In 1948 Qawasmi left his city, heading to Italy, to study goldsmith. He had chosen Italy, because Italy had many institutes and factories specialized in the gold industry.

Science and Work in Parallel

Qawasmi spent about 5 years between education and employment at the same time, as he managed to integrate between both of them in an artistic way, where he eventually came out with both a certificate and experience, which would enable him to invest his exile years, shorten the time he needs to build his future, and make his dream become true.

At the beginning of his vocational career, while he was studying goldsmith in a specialized institute in Florence City of Italy, he practiced free employment. Later on he managed to establish a company in partnership with some Italian Experts, who were familiar with the Italian market. At that stage he was only 25 years old.

The time has come for the small company, which grew up to become a big one, because of the great efforts being deployed by him and his partners, to leave for home. Therefore Qawasmi decided to resolve his partnership, sold everything, in order to buy all the necessary equipments and devices that he required, for the company, which he intended to build in his home city of Hebron.

The Dream Becomes Reality

In 1994 Qawasmi was able to establish his private factory in his home city "Hebron", where he started on his long serious journey to complete and fulfill his dream.

Due to the lack of specialists in the field of goldsmith in Palestine, he had to double the required efforts, in order to establish a crew that would be able to run the factory. Thus Qawasmi started training his employees one by one, till he managed to train a group, who were able to train the rest of the employees. As for now the total number of employees is 33.

First the Employees

Qawasmi classifies his staff in the hierarchy of his priorities, as he says: "The ancient gold industry was limited to the father and son, where the factory owner would prefer little production, rather than bringing more staff, because of the accuracy of the profession and the lack of security, but for the time being there is openness to recruit young people according to their experience and their desire to learn".

Qawasmi pays great attention to his staff; this could be noticed by the majestic pictures of the staff being placed on one of the factory walls, in a strategic place.

Qawasmi says about that: "usually owners of factories and companies puts their own pictures, but I prefer to put pictures of my factory employees, rather than putting my own picture, because I know that my success is theirs too".

A Unique Purification Line of its Own

Al-Qawasmi factory became one of the first of gold factories in Palestine, because of its excellence; it could be classified as the first on the Palestinian Level, but because of his modest and humbleness, Al-Qawasmi refuses such tag.

The factory has the only purification gold line in Palestine. Few months ago, the Palestinian Factories used to send their gold to the Israeli Factories for purification, but because of the existence of the new line in AL-Qawasmi Factory, the Israeli option was dispensed, where all factories can purify their gold in it. The line saves for them the cost, time and risk of transporting gold.

Qawasmi is proud that among those he has trained became owners of their own factories in Palestine, as he says: "There are five owners of gold factories, who were my disciples and I am proud of them".

Among his staff, there are some employees who have been working with him for more than 17 years. He considers them as his right forearm in the factory.

Profession's Opportunities are Available

Regarding the employee's salaries it ranges between NIS 2.500 - 6000 per month. Therefore Al-Qawasmi is advising young people to knock on the doors of this profession. He is calling them to go directly to the Palestinian Factories to get the necessary training and experience. They don't need to study abroad, as they can shorten the cost and time required, pointing out that there is continuous communication between his factory and the Italian Factories, who provide the necessary support for his factory, as well as for other factories that are facing difficulties or obstacles in their work.

Qawasmi explained that preparations are underway to introduce a new department of Jewelry Smith in Palestine Polytechnic University, to teach the students goldsmith. Thus Al-Qawasmi advises youths to exploit the market need for this specialization, due to the lack of specialized staff, and due to the need of the Palestinian market for goldsmith.

The Overturn of Scales

One of Al-Qawasmi staff is so proud of his Director, as he says:"This man has revived the spirit of gold industry in our region, as prior to the establishment of his factory in Palestine, the percentage of gold production was only 10%, while the import percentage reached 90%, but since he came back to Palestine, brought with him that considerable experience to the region, he was able to overturn the scales, as the domestic manufacturing turned to become 90%, while the import scale became only 10%".

Qawasmi once again confirmed the quality and purity of the Palestinian gold, calling for confidence and reassurance of the gold quality available in the Palestinian Market, which is being manufactured by skilled factory hands, and by using the latest machinery and under the supervision and training of skilled experts from abroad.