Issue 61

The DITP is readying for another edition of the Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair that is set to reinforce Thailand’s position as the hub of gems and jewelry for the ASEAN region.

The gems and jewelry industry is growing stronger year-on-year, ranking third in the country in terms of export value, generating 435 billion baht (US$12.3 billion) worth of exports from January to October 2016, which represents a 36.2% increase compared with the same period in 2015.

With the government’s twin aim to establish Thailand as the gems and jewelry manufacturing and trading centre of the world and for the fair to become one of the world’s three biggest gems and jewelry fair by 2018, the DITP is focused on promoting Thai jewelry brands, both big and small.

Held in February, the 59th Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair (BGJF) will offer new opportunities for medium and small enterprises in the gems and jewelry business to expand their sales at the fair while connecting with buyers and sellers in Thailand and overseas.

“The Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair is a great chance for buyers from around the world to purchase good quality raw materials, gems and jewelry from leading producers and create wider networks with new business partners,” said DITP Director-General Malee Choklumlerd. “We also aim for Thailand to become a trendsetter for the gems and jewelry industry in ASEAN and Asia, as well as to encourage more recognition for Thai jewelry brands on world markets.”

To promote the industry’s growth, the Thai government is providing tax benefits such as permanent VAT exemptions for unpolished diamonds and gemstones, and lowering import taxes for machinery and equipment used for the manufacturing of jewelry.

The fair’s highlights will include zones for up-and-coming Thai jewelry brands as well as a concept showcase for potential markets such as: the 50+Exhibition featuring jewelry for the elderly, Gemstlemen jewelry for men, Pet Parade jewelry for pet lovers, the Moments exhibition that will feature jewelry for special occasions, Culture Club for arts and crafts jewelry, and Spiritual Power for jewelry that corresponds to spiritual beliefs.

The DITP will also ensure that security at the fair is tight by engaging the Royal Thai Police and the Royal Thai Army as well as installing CCTV cameras and other security systems at the venue.
The 58th Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair held in September 2016 received a large number of overseas visitors, particularly those from India, China, Myanmar, the US and Iran. Overall sales generated at the fair totalled US$476.85 million (16.69 billion baht). The most popular products were diamonds, silver jewelry, gold jewelry, precious gemstones and semi-precious gemstones.

The 59th Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair will take place from February 22 to 26, 2017 at Challenger Hall, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, covering an area of 58,000sqm, it will feature 2,500 booths from Thai and overseas exhibitors.

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

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  

Issue 59

Designers and businesspeople joined forces to unleash their creativity at this year’s Creative Thailand and BIG+BIH 2016.

Tens of thousands of visitors flocked in to see the latest designs in the gifts and houseware industry at the 42nd Bangkok International Gift Fair 2016 and Bangkok International Houseware Fair 2016 (BIG+BIH), and the Creative Thailand Symposium held from October 19 to 23 at BITEC, Bangna. Many joined in seminars on how to develop businesses according to the Thailand 4.0 model which encourages innovation.

“Creative Thailand is hosted under the Think Big concept to encourage companies to dare to think, do, create and build our country,” said Suvit Maesincee, Deputy Minister of Commerce at the opening ceremony.

The DITP revealed that global buyers from countries and regions as diverse as the US, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Germany and the UK attended the trade show.

“Due to expectations that the global economy will improve in 2017, BIG+BIH 2016 attracted more buyers from various countries and the event is expected to have a purchase-sales value of over 1.5 billion baht, up from 1.3 billion baht during the previous year,” said Malee Choklumlerd, director general of the DITP.

Show highlights ranged from Top of OTOP, a variety of top OTOP (One Tambon One Product) made from natural raw materials; Pet Parade, innovative products to meet pet lovers’ needs; Thai Wellness, Thai-style healthcare and services involving wellness for seniors, and CLMVT, handcrafted goods from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand.

Apart from showcases of government-supported projects at Creative Thailand 2016, the DITP also held activities under the Thailand 4.0 policy to seek a new engine for growing the economy by organising the Creative Thailand Symposium. The event brought together prominent figures in creative industries from around the world at the five-day brainstorming seminar, where speakers from various fields shared ideas on how creativity can drive business. Topics ranged from running business startups, to animation and the digital industry, engaging the aging population, and social enterprises.

“The key to success is collaboration between creativity and industry,” said Tadashi Sudo, founder of the Anime!Anime! website during his talk on Cool Japan and the Japanese Animation Industry at the symposium. “I think Thai people are very creative and they have their own Thai style.”

Dennis Hwang, director of Visual and Interaction Design at Niantic, the creator the popular Pokémon Go game agreed that the creative community in Thailand should continue to develop its own style.

“I’ve always considered Thailand a culturally rich country, with a very strong sense of serenity that comes from Buddhism,” he said. “Creativity really feeds off culture, so the Thailand creative community might want to draw on something really unique in the culture to create a unique blend of design and ideas that the world hasn’t seen.”

For more information, visit www.ditp-design.com or oct2016.bigandbih.com
Words by Pimsirinuch Borsub

Issue 57

Stimulated by projects sponsored by the DITP, lifestyle products by Thai designers are making a substantial contribution to the national economy.

“The lifestyle product sector is one of Thailand’s most vital industries,” declared Malee Choklumlerd, Director General of the DITP, at the opening ceremony of the Bangkok International Gift Fair and Bangkok International Houseware Fair (BIG+BIH) on April 19.

Recognising this, the Thailand Institute of Design and Innovation Promotion, under the DITP continues to promote lifestyle products and designers and showcase its potential through many projects, including DEmark, which has received great exposure both domestically and internationally.

The Siam Piwat Group is one company that has supported Thai designers to demonstrate their potential. An example of this is the Object of Design Store (O.D.S), a collaboration between the DITP and the company to help promote Thai designers that have received the DEmark award at Siam Discovery Department Store.

“O.D.S gives huge benefits to Thai designers because they have more channels to showcase, distribute and build their brands to gain more awareness from customers,” says M.L. Kathathong Thongyai, Director of the Thailand Institute of Design and Innovation Promotion.

“In the store, we have a café called I+D Style Café x Brave Roaster. It’s a project initiated by the DITP. We would like to create an interactive atmosphere where customers can spend time in the store and interact with items longer,” he says. “We have more than 600 brands from DEmark, Talent Thai and Designers’ Room projects. Some products are showcased while some of them are used in the store such as lighting equipment, chairs, tables, furniture and decoration items to give customers the opportunity to experience products by themselves.”

Since O.D.S had its grand opening in July 2016, the store has received a great response from both domestic and international customers.

“O.D.S is just the beginning,” says Thongyai. “I have a vision to not only expand this kind of shop throughout Thailand, but also to expand into other countries. I would like to send the message to people around the world that Thailand has got a number of fine quality and creative design products that meet international standards.”

Thongyai has also given his promise to fully support young designers to maximise their potential.

“Now it is the golden time for Thai designers because you all have greater and better opportunities to showcase what you have, and the government and the private sector is ready to support your idea,” he says.

The director adds that by participating in projects organised by DITP designers benefit from the opportunity to show their potential, as well as strengthening the sustainable growth of Thai lifestyle products on international markets.

For more information, please visit: www.ditp.go.th.

Photo courtesy of O.D.S

Words by: Patcharee Taedangpetch