The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), the apex body of the industry, organised the second India SAARC (South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation)-Middle East Buyer Seller Meet with the support of ministry of commerce & industry, Government of India from May 14th to 16th 2017 in New Delhi.
The event played host to 38 Indian manufacturers from across the country and 77 international buyers from the SAARC and Middle East region, namely, 13 buyers from Bangladesh; 11 from Sri Lanka; 11 from Saudi Arabia; 4 from UAE; 1 from Algeria; 3 from Egypt; 7 from Jordan; 1 from Kuwait; 5 from Lebanon; 2 from Oman; 1 from Palestine; 4 from Qatar; 11 from Malaysia; and 3 from Singapore.
The Indian exhibitors displayed a wide range of jewellery products consisting of diamond and coloured gemstone studded jewellery and plain gold jewellery
Praveenshankar Pandya, chairman, GJEPC, said, “The first edition of the format was much appreciated by the manufacturers and buyers equally. I am sure the second edition of India-SAARC Middle East Buyer Seller Meet would further enhance and offer better and new opportunities for both parties. In the future, we would like to organise this platform in a much bigger way, giving opportunity for more manufacturers and buyers, as South Asia is a regional bloc that holds immense trade potential due to the linkage of similar jewellery preferences and tastes.”
Anil Sankhwal, regional chairman, northern region, GJEPC, added, “The objective of this Buyer Seller Meet cum mini-exhibition is to invite key business decision makers and arrange one-to-one meetings with the prominent Indian jewellery manufacturers from India, in an effort to develop new trust and understanding at a cultural, business and professional level and to explore future business opportunities that may occur as a result of these meetings.
India’s gem & jewellery exports to the Middle East countries in 2016-17 accounted for $14 billion, whereas exports to SAARC countries accounted for $19.38 million.
“India has been one of the major markets for gems and jewellery exports. A unique initiative by GJEPC, this Meet serves as a great platform to have healthy business discussions and to further help strengthen trade relationship between us and India. We look forward to participate in many more such initiatives going forward,” said an unnamed international buyer.