The 54th Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair (BGJF54) was inaugurated yesterday by Chutima Bunyapraphasara, permanent secretary of ministry of commerce. She reassures the paramount position of the gems and jewellery industry in the country and the support of the government.
She said the Thai government has given duty free privilege for traders in this fair. Gems and jewellery products traded free at the show will be exempted from 20 percent import duties. "It is yet another proof of the government's commitment in increasing the competitive edge of the gems sector, which then contributes to the development of the industry as a while eventually," she said.
Leaders from ASEAN member nations and six trade partner countries and regions gathered today for the 3rd ASEAN Gems & Jewelry Presidents' Summit (AGJPS) meeting which has been hosted by Thailand since inauguration.
Under the theme of "Fostering unity, strength and prosperity", the summit was attended by representatives from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China, India, Japan and Korea. Prior to the welcome speech by deputy director-general of the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) Duangkamol Jiambutr, Somchai Phornchindarak, president of the Gems, Jewelry and Precious Metal Confederation of Thailand (GJPCT) and the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association (TGJTA) reported on the progress and objectives of the meeting.
Apart from agreeing on the official emblem of AGJPS, a promotion committee was formed under the leadership of Suttipong Damrongsakul, CEO of BGJF54 and chairman of the summit's organizing committee, with Malaysia and the Philippines being the joint-secretary.
The meeting also probed into the possibility of promoting the ASEAN+6 gems and jewellery industry at trade fairs held in non-ASEAN+6 countries and regions, guidelines and regulations for trade, investment and production of gems and jewellery in AEC countries, raw material trade cooperation, and the creation of a AEC gems and jewellery website and newsletter.
The next three editions of AGJPS wll be hosted by Thailand, Myanmar and the Philippines respectively.
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