46th Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair begins

The 46th edition of the Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair began today, promising a more fulfilling experience with new segments added this year. The Grand Opening Ceremony was graciously presided over by H.E. Porntiva Nakasai, Minister of Commerce, in the Royal Jubilee Hall. The show is slated till September 11, 2010 at the Impact Challenger Exhibition Hall, at Muang Thong Thani.

The first day did not see much footfall, attributable to various reasons: political issues during last month, Vicenza show and Hongkong Gem and Jewellery Fair having a larger gap than previous years and the ongoing festival of the Muslim community, could have kept many buyers at bay. Although its onset this year has been slow, exhibitors are optimistic with the new scope of the show.

Highlights of the 46th Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair:

‘Jewelry Trends of 2011,’ – starting off a long-term cooperation programme of the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association with the Swarovski Group from Europe. It will feature a seminar and analysis of emerging global jewellery trends by Swarovski's Head of Gem Creation Dr Birgit Reider and a daily fashion show on new-trend jewels.

Ploi Thai Jewelry Award collections by Thai jewellery designers being showcased abroad under the Ploi Thai brand with the Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Road Shows.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in the jewellery sector engaging in product branding, which will be carried abroad by the Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Road Shows.

Purchasing delegations from Russia, China and India, trade mission of member countries of the European Union; trade delegations from the Asia-Pacific region, and from ASEAN countries; who are likely to attend, courtesy Department of Export Promotion, and the "Better Than The Best" promotional campaign by Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau in the Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Roadshows.

“We’re pleased with the list of these buyers”. said Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair CEO Mr Somchai Phornchindarak, adding that We’ll make sure their sourcing trip this time will get profitable sources of supply from Thai exhibitors who offer diamond jewellery, gold jewellery, silver jewellery, fashion jewellery, gemstones, jewellery packaging and more.”.

Such efforts compliment the rise in Thailand’s gem and jewellery trade in the last seven months. During anuary-July 2010 the said exports rose by 11.45 percent (y-o-y) to US$ 6.3million, and imports were up 129 percent (y-o-y) to US$ 6.7 million.

This year, the number of exhibitors have increased in the silver section, but remain almost the same in the diamond section as last year. Comparatively, less participants are observed in the gold jewellery section. The volatility of gold prices continues to loom the global gold jewellery this year.

The Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair is a bi-annual event held in March and September, and is an influential platform bringing forth Thailand’s status as The World’s Gems & Jewelry Hub.