Issue 58

Professionals from the gems and jewelry industry flock to the Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair held by the Department of International Trade Promotion.
With Thai gem and jewelry exports for the first seven months of 2016 going strong at 335 billion baht ($9.68 billion), the industry was keen to further boost sales at the Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair held in September.

“The DITP is hosting the 58th edition of the Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair to steer Thailand on the solid path to become the world’s trade and production centre for gems and jewelry and Asia’s important trading stage,” said DITP director general Malee Choklumlerd. “The department is strongly committed to making the fair one of the world’s top three gems and jewelry events by 2018. We’re also very pleased with the number of visitors who participated at the fair.”

In this edition, 791 companies from 30 countries participated at the fair, occupying over 2,100 booths. The DITP expected that the value of sales generated at the event will reach 15 billion baht ($433 million) or approximately 10% more than in the previous edition.

“Thai companies are very professional,” said Choklumlerd. “Thai workers also have exquisite craftsmanship and are adapt at heat treatment and gemstone cutting.”

Many businesses across the Thai gem and jewelry industry joined forces to exhibit at the fair, ensuring that the industry is still one of the largest sectors in the Thai economy.

“The gem and jewelry industry is important for economic development, domestic and international trade, tourism and employment,” says Pornsit Priorathaikul, chair of major jewelry manufacturer and retailer Beauty Gems Factory.
A large number of up-and-coming jewelry designers also participated at the fair.

“This edition focuses more on jewelry designs and different showcases, rather than purely on raw materials,” said Supatchana Limwongse, design director of jewelry brand Ornaments & L’or. “I was chosen by the DITP to participate in 10 Imagineers, an initiative which brought Thai jewelry designers to New York in July 2016. It was a great opportunity for Thai jewelry brands to meet buyers and consumers in the US.”

The fair provided a business matching service, with over 100 appointments made in advance through www.thaitrade.com. Another service provided was the ‘Design Service Society’, a one-on-one consultancy service on gem and jewelry designs. Seminars were organised on topics ranging from raw materials at the ‘Discover Gemmiferous Nations’ session, to the “How to get rich selling jewelry online” e-commerce session.

The 58th Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair was held from September 7 to 11 at Challenger Halls, Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani. The DITP announced that the next edition of the fair will take place from February 22 to 26, 2017 at the same venue.


For more information, visit www.bkkgems.com
Words by Pimsirinuch Borsub  

Tags: BGJF | Gems | Jewelry | DITP | MOC | Design
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