Aspired to become a regional gems and jewellery hub, the Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair (BGJF) concluded its 62nd edition on 11 September 2018 at Challenger, Impact, Muang Thong Thani with overwhelming success, according to organiser Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce, Thailand.
Minister of commerce of Thailand Sontirat Sontijirawong and DITP director general Chantira Jimreivat Vivatrat presided over the opening ceremony of the 62nd BGJF staged on the first show day. The ceremony was followed by an extravagant fashion show themed ‘Queen of Jewelry’ to honour Her Majesty Queen Sirikit who dedicated her life to promoting arts and culture as well as helping her subjects generate income.
The show attracted global visitors from 107 countries and regions, most of which from India, China, Myanmar, the United States and Vietnam, to source the newest jewellery collections and avant-garde equipment from 914 exhibitors who occupied a total of 2,066 booths. Among the exhibitors, 800 were local suppliers including 150 new brands and SMEs from 18 provinces across Thailand.
DITP said sales generated at the fair totaled nearly THB 2,390 million, exceeding the target. Products with the highest trade value were gemstones (THB 985 million, 41 percent of the total sales), gold jewellery (THB 327 million, 14 percent), diamonds (THB 222 million, nine percent), silver jewellery (THB 217 million, nine percent), machinery (THB 213 million, nine percent).
Apart from offering a wide array of exhibits ranging from gold jewellery to silver jewellery, gemstones, diamonds and machinery, the Bangkok fair managed to make a difference from other jewellery shows with its heritage, craftsmanship, and the importance attached to promoting jewellery design.
The 62nd BGJF allocated generous spaces to budding designers and innovative designs. For instance, the ‘New Faces’ section gathered over 140 new brands and designers who demonstrated their creativity through innovative designs. The ‘Jewellers’ zone comprised over 20 brands that had participated in the ‘Talent Thai and Designers’ Room’ initiative. ‘Niche Showcase’ presented jewellery for five niche markets including spirituality, LGBT and those crossed over with lifestyle products. For start-ups, ‘Innovative and Design Zone’ was an ideal place to seek business partners.
DITP’s director-general Chantira Jimreivat Vivatrat said: “This edition of the fair proved to be very successful. Our exhibitors held negotiations with both new and existing trade partners while overseas buyers were highly interested in The New Faces zone that featured up-and-coming brands and Thai SMEs. Thai entrepreneurs that joined DITP project were able to sell their products at the fair and meet potential overseas buyers who are likely to place orders in the future that will ultimately have a positive effect for the manufacturing sector and export sector for the Thai gems and jewellery industry.”
The gems and jewellery industry ranks third exporting industry in Thailand, after automotive and computers and parts. Government statistics shows that total export value of gems and jewellery from Thailand (excluding unwrought gold) for the first seven months of 2018 was USD4.3 billion, a y-o-y increase of over 6.9 percent. Major markets were Hong Kong, the United States, Germany and India which altogether accounted for 60 percent of total exports.
Ministry of Commerce of Thailand has initiated a brand new global campaign to present a new image for the country’s gems and jewellery industry – ‘Thailand’s Magic Hands: The Spirit of Jewelry Making’ which demonstrates the comparative advantages of Thailand, from being the place where craftspeople with high-level expertise of jewellery-making gather, to being a fertile ground for talented designers and emerging Thai jewellery brands.
The 63rd BGJF will be held 20-24 February 2019 at Challenger Halls 1-3, Impact, Muang Thong Thani. (Photo courtesy: DITP)
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