Jewellers Association Show (JAS), a popular businesscum-consumer trade fair organised annually by the Jewellers Association, Jaipur, was held from August 31st to September 3rd, 2018, at the Jaipur Exhibition & Convention Centre in Sitapura, an industrial zone. The four-day event witnessed a steady flow of foot traffic that generated strong sales, with more than 5,000 trade buyers and 25,000 consumers from across the globe attending the show.
JAS 2018 housed more than 450 booths, of which 250 showcased gems and jewellery, 150 booths displayed rough gemstones, and the rest were related to allied services, publications, and jewellery manufacturing machinery and tools.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, chief guest C.R. Chaudhary, the union minister of state for commerce and industry, assured trade members that the issue of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) levied on re-import of jewellery would be settled in the next GST Council meeting. He also promised to address, in consultation with the central government, the age-old demand of Jaipur jewellers for setting up a gem bourse.
Chaudhary praised the gems and jewellery industry for its contribution of 7% to the country’s GDP. While praising the organisers of JAS, he said that Jaipur has made a mark as the gemstone capital and such shows will create a distinct identity for the pink city at the international level.’
Also present at the opening ceremony were Member of Parliament Ramcharan Bohra, Jaipur Member of Legislative Assembly Mohan Lal Gupta, Jaipur mayor Ashok Lahoty and Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) chairman Pramod Agrawal.
The theme of the show ‘Mines to Jewellery’ was depicted through live demonstrations of a gemstone’s journey from rough to polished to finally being set in jewellery, by trained artisans.
During the event, Jewellers Association, Jaipur, launched an app which is aimed at connecting buyers and sellers of gems and jewellery. The organisers also awarded cash prizes, certificates and trophies to winners of a pan-India jewellery competition sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
On the sidelines, JAS 18 held seminars on a range of topics, including brand building, blogging, gemstone treatments, and the IGST levied on re-import of jewellery.
Rajasthan industry minister Rajpal Singh Shekhawat, the chief guest for the closing ceremony, gave away awards for the best booths under two categories – gemstone and jewellery. In the gemstone category, the first prize went to Nakshatra, the second to Ansh Jewels, the third to Multi Gems Creations, and the consolation prize was given to Shreejee Jewellers. In the jewellery category, the first prize went to Rambhajo, second to Golecha, third to Shreejee Jewellers, and the consolation prize to Parina Jewels.
There was a daily referral draw on all the four days, besides the mega draw on the last day. The referral draws were sponsored by Kishan Agrawal, Rambhajo Jewellers, Ashok Maheshwari and Ramdas Ashok Kumar Noval, who offered jewellery worth R50,000 each to the winners. The mega draw offering jewellery worth R1 lakh was sponsored by Nawlakha Jewellers.
The organisers informed that the next edition of JAS will be held from April 6th-9th, 2019, at the same venue.