Kerala Gem & Jewellery Show to be held in November

06 Oct '08

3 min read

The logo of the first-ever Kerala Gem & Jewellery Show 2008 (KGJS 2008) – a business-to-business exhibition to be held from 14-16 November, was unveiled at Cochin on 25 June by Kerala's minister for industries and commerce Elamaram Karim.

The B2B exhibition is being organised by The Art of Jewellery, India's No.1 Jewellery Magazine, with the support of the All Kerala Gold & Silver Merchants Association (AKGSMA), Jewellery Manufacturing Association (JMA) of Kerala, World Gold Council (WGC) and the Government of Kerala.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said: “The government will extend its full support to the show.” The show will, apart from promoting the jewellery industry and trade, help create new job opportunities, he added.

Among the special invitees present on the occasion were P.H Kurian, IAS, Secretary of Industries & Commerce, Govt of Kerala, T.O Suraj, IAS, Director of Industries & Commerce, Govt of Kerala, Sumesh Wadhera, Managing Director & Chief Editor, The Art of Jewellery and P.V.Jose, Chief Patron, Jewellers Manufacturers Association, Kerala.

The other dignitaries present were Rajagopal, GM, Kerala Bureau of Industries & Promotion, P.T Cheiran, President, All Kerala Gold & Silver Merchants Association, Kerala, P.C Nateshan, General Secretary, All Kerala Gold & Silver Merchants Association, Kerala, Haji Ismailkutty, State Treasurer, All Kerala Gold & Silver Merchants Association, Kerala, and G.S Pillai, Director, Gold Souk.

While south India is the jewellery hub, Kerala is especially noteworthy for its fondness for gold and gold jewellery. Over 500 kg of gold jewellery is manufactured everyday in the state, and a third of this is sold to jewellers outside Kerala.

The state has the distinction of consuming 20% of India's gold and gold jewellery. There are around 5000 retailers in Kerala and Trissur alone has around 3000 large, medium size jewellery manufacturers.

Besides, around 40,000 artisans are employed in Kerala. That apart, the trade provides direct and indirect employment to 2 lakh people.

KGJS 2008 is designed to address the long felt need in the state to bring the retail trade closer to the manufacturers.

It is conceived as an ideal platform for jewellery manufacturers, retailers, artisans, exporters and wholesalers to interact, network, source the latest designs and enhance their knowledge and further their business prospects.

Over 150 exhibitors are expected to participate in KGJS 2008. Participants are expected from various parts of India including Mumbai, Surat, Kolkata, Jaipur, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

Participants from abroad (Dubai, Bangkok, Italy, etc) are also expected. There will be separate Gold, Diamond and Machinery pavilions showcasing a variety of products at KGJS 2008. Educational trade seminars at KGJS 2008 will have eminent speakers from India and abroad.

Other value-adds at the show include a fashion show showcasing the latest jewellery and trends, a jewellery excellence awards night, new product launches and a buyer-seller meet.

The dates for the show have been carefully chosen so that they do not clash with any other jewellery event. Also the choice of the show venue – Le Meridien Resort and Convention Centre, Cochin – was governed by the fact that its air-conditioned conventions hall can accommodate 150 stalls and the resort itself offers an aesthetic ambience and ample parking facility.

Kerala Gem & Jewellery Show 2008

More Textiles News - India...