The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) is preparing to host the second Indo-US Jewellery Business Relationship Development Conference in Mumbai, on September 8. Rio Tinto Diamonds is sponsoring the event.

Organisers have planned two days of panel discussions, keynote speeches and 45-minutes of one-on-one meetings between nine prominent US retailers and wholesalers and 11 major Indian jewellery manufacturers. For the remaining two days, live visits will be organized for US delegates, to the diamond manufacturing factories both inside and outside SEEPZ in Mumbai. Sanjay Kothari, chairman of the GJEPC was optimistic of number and quality of participants at the event, despite the US facing struggling economic situations. The likely participants are Sterling’s Kay and Jared Division, Fred Meyer Jewellers, Reeds of North Carolina, RJO represented by Herteen & Stocker and Wickersham Jewellers, Bergstrom’s and Becker’s Jewellers representing Leading Jewellers of the World, Cardow's of the US Virgin Islands and fine jewellery designer and wholesaler Temple St. Clair. Eleven manufacturing sponsors are also expected at the event: Elegant Collection, Fine Jewellery, Goldiam International, Jewelex, KP Sanghavi, Minestone, Mohit, Shrenuj, SNC Jewels, Sunjewels Eleganza and Supergems.

Mr. Kothari also mentioned the commendable efforts of retailers who are on the path to continually develop new manufacturing sources and the efforts of the sponsors to acquaint US guests with highly saleable, fashionable product, that not only delivers a good working margin, but also provides them with an excellent value for sale to their customers.