Colombo, March 24 ( /Xinhua) The Sri Lankan government aims to earn 1 billion U.S. dollars from gem exports this year with steps being taken to increase the exports to more markets, local media reported Thursday. Minister of Industries S.B. Dissanayake was quoted as saying that the National Gem and Jewelry Authority was working to launch a system online in collaboration with the Department of Posts and Sri Lanka Customs to sell gems and jewelry worth less than 3,000 U.S. dollars to international buyers. The minister said that with the launch of the online portal, more opport ties will be available for local gem exporters to get access to the international market. The move is part of the government’s efforts to increase the country’s foreign exchange. “The current export earnings of gems and jewelry are around 265 million U.S. dollars per year. But through the use of this online method, we have the potential to increase our gem and jewelry export earnings to 1 billion U.S. dollars,” the minister said. According to official data, Sri Lanka’s gem, diamond and jewelry exports in the first seven months of 2021 amounted to 183 million U.S. dollars and the exports in 2020 totalled 211 million U.S. dollars. /XINHUA GNK