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Sanjay Kothari, GJEPC Chairman, says growth momentum to be enhanced
The much-vaunted Silver Jubilee Edition of the largely export-oriented, long-running, best attended and most prestigious B2B India International Jewellery Show (IIJS 2008), the glittering fixture in the country’s Gem & Jewellery trade exhibition calendar, shone brightly in the country’s Western commercial city of Mumbai from 7 to 11 August. Hosted and organized by the 6,500-member, 1966-established Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council of India (GJEPC), the IIJS (2008) is Asia’s second biggest industry show and a magnet for the international trade community who gravitate to the sprawling Mumbai Exhibition Centre exhibition grounds in India’s business metropolis on the occasion. Industry exports in the last fiscal year totaled over USD $ 20.0 billion.
The crowning moment came when the electrifying, glittering and glitzy Show was officially inaugurated at a lavish ceremony on 7 August 2008 by Sanjay Kothari, the ebullient, energetic and vibrant Chairman of the GJEPC in the distinguished presence of his able deputy, Vasant Mehta, Vice Chairman GJEPC and other senior GJEPC office bearers. Also in attendance was a slew of high-powered international industry officials that included Bill Champion, Managing Director, Rio Tinto; Philip Olden, Managing Director & Chief Marketing Officer, World Gold Council; James Courage, CEO, Platinum Guild International; Rajiv Bhandari, President De Beers / DTC India; the Belgian Consul General in Mumbai and a large posse of local press / trade correspondents and a big delegation of especially-invited industry media personnel from around the globe including a staff correspondent of Arabian Watches & Jewellery (AWJ), published by MPParabia.
IIJS 2008 personified superlatives on an unprecedented scale. This year IIJS has 19,000 registered visitors including 2,000 international visitors and at the conclusion of the show clocked in over 30,000 trade attendees. Important statistical data included 800 exhibitors, 1600 stands including 250 international booths and country pavilions from Italy, Thailand, Japan, Belgium, UAE and Turkey. Official delegations representing Governments of Hungary, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Iran and the Independent Autonomous Region of Kurdistan in Northern Iraq were also present at this landmark event. Interest was very high at this year’s event as GJEPC endeavours to source new supply centres in Africa and identify new and emerging retail markets in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Russia and the former countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) including Ukraine, Armenia and the Trans-Caucasian Republic of Georgia.
The five-day extravaganza was punctuated by an educative and enlightening series of the over 17 technical and retail Spectrum Seminars involving 50 regional and global industry experts and numerous other participants, the razzmatazz of scintillating fashion shows and the Annual Solitaire Design Awards to honour the finest in the business.
The dates of IIJS 2009 have also been announced. The 26th Edition will be held in Mumbai from 6 to 10 August 2009.