The Bangkok Gems & Jewellery Fair series continued its winning streak with the hosting of yet another successful edition in the vibrant ‘City of Angels in the Land of Smiles’. The just-concluded five-day, 41st Edition of the long-running bi-annual Bangkok Gems & Jewellery Fair (BGJF), held in the Thai capital from 27 February to 2 March 2008, was hailed as result-oriented, outstanding and a great success by show organizers and sponsors—The Thai Gems & Jewellery Traders Association (TGJTA), the umbrella body of the Kingdom’s jewel trade, participants, media and independent observers.

The Fair was officially inaugurated by Khun Wirun Techaphaiboon, Deputy Minister of Commerce, in the presence of VIPs, local, regional and international industry professionals, general and international trade media and a pre-eminent delegation of senior Government officials, top Thai industry leaders & TGJTA office bearers that included Khun Vichai Assarasakorn, President, TGJTA and Khun Somchai Phornchindarak, CEO—Organizing Committee, BGJF.

TGJTA President Khun Vichai Assarasakorn revealed the Association’s three-pronged priority plan to stimulate the industry. This roadmap to sustainable growth will address the impediments involving tax and industry funding and exploring new overseas markets.

The world-class show, the fifth largest trade show, was staged in a 100,000 sq. m., one-floor exposition held at the iconic, sprawling Challenger Impact Exhibition & Convention Centre. Participating in the Exhibition were 1,105 exhibitors (909 Thai and 196 Overseas) in 16 key product categories from over 35 countries present in some 3,500 booths. Gems & jewellery worth in excess of USD $ 3.0 billion were displayed at the exhibition. Exhibitors included an array of regional and international gold & silver jewellery producers & retailers, dealers & exporters of diamonds, pearls, precious and semi-precious stones in addition to manufacturers of equipment and machinery. The Fair attracted over 30,000 regional and international visitors and generated trade worth millions of dollars.

The potentially lucrative Middle East continues to be an area of focus for the exports of Thai gems & jewellery as was opined by Khun Vichai Assarasakorn, President TGJTA, in an exclusive conversation with the AWJ B2B Newsletter published by MPParabia.  “We are very keen to pursue Middle East markets and the region remains a priority for exploring business and trade opportunities,” asserted Khun Vichai. “With the current economic slow down in the USA, there will be increased focus in the rich pickings offered by Middle East markets, particularly the UAE, already our 10th biggest export destination and Saudi Arabia, the economic powerhouse in the region. We are upbeat and hope to make further forays in this region,” he added. Similarly, there is also increased interest by jewellery majors based in the Middle East with Thailand’s venture & economic opportunities, manufacturing infrastructure and export potential. Regional jewellery bigwigs such as the House of Mouawad, Mahallati & Dhamani, to name a few, have manufacturing facilities in Thailand and the Kingdom is steadily attracting new Middle East & international investment in this sector.

Meanwhile, the show dates for the 42nd BGJF have been announced. The five-day Fair will be held from 11 to 15 September 2008.

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council of India (GJEPC)-initiated and organized IIJS Signature 2008 was hailed as a tremendous success. The four-day exhibition held at the Kala (Art) Academy situated on the banks of the river Mandovi in Panaji, the capital of the scenic Western Indian state of Goa from 29 February to 3 March 2998, served as a platform to promote India globally as the preferred source of jewellery and showcase the country’s ability to produce quality, premium jewellery.

The first-time, by-invitation & trade only Exhibition was inaugurated jointly by Pratap Singh Rane, Speaker, Goa Legislative Assembly, Sanjay A. Kothari, Chairman and Vasant Mehta, Vice President, GJEPC.

This carefully choreographed and customized exhibition assembled India’s finest and selectively invited 98 manufacturers spread across 140 booths. Of the 490 especially invited professional business visitors, 259 were foreign individual buyers, delegates and guests. Over 160 top retailers from India also visited the show. In addition, there were official trade delegations from the Middle East, Iran and first time delegations from Syria, Libya & Iraq (Northern Autonomous Kurdistan province).