MJDMA, UBM India announce the 11th Edition of GJIIE

UBM India and Madras Jewellers and Diamond Merchants Association (MJDMA) have announced the 11th edition of the three-day Gem & Jewellery India International Exhibition 2015 (GJIIE). The mega B2B gem and jewellery show is slated to be held at the Chennai Trade Centre from March 20, 2015 to March 22, 2015. GJIIE 2015 is poised to raise benchmarks and fuel trade for the jewellery industry in India.

There are over 300 exhibitors participating this year including retailers, artisans and wholesalers. In addition to potential II and III tier cities in India, the exhibition will have representations from Turkey, Dubai, Hong Kong and Thailand, thus substantiating the international reach and presence of GJIIE 2015.

A unique feature of the 11th edition of GJIIE 2015 is 'Kaarigar Awards' for artisans. This is to honour and recognize the unspoken heroes of the jewellery trade - the traditional 'kaarigars', who painstakingly create beautiful pieces through their craftsmanship.

The GJIIE Diamond Pavilion, another unique pavilion, will feature the latest designs in loose, uncut, and diamond jewellery. The diamond pavilion, with a growth of 20 per cent in exhibitors this year, boasts of participation by leading players from Gujarat, Mumbai, Hong Kong amongst others, with them showcasing their products to large delegations from regions such as Trichy, Madurai, Pondicherry.

The Machinery section hosted in association with MSME & BIS, for the first time at GJIIE, promises a huge business enhancement to over 80 machinery manufacturer exhibitors showcasing the latest cutting-edge technology for stakeholders involved in jewellery manufacturing machinery and its allied products. The section will see participation from Germany, Italy, and Japan in addition to local counterparts, and will also be conducting workshops and seminars.

Other event highlights include Buyer-Seller meets, luxury pavilions, technical seminars, and the Fashion Show night.

UBM has been an integral part of the jewellery industry for nearly three decades now, organising similar renowned jewellery fairs worldwide. GJIIE Chennai is one of the five-city (Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Gujarat) jewellery shows hosted throughout the year by UBM India.

Ravi Saneja, Senior Group Director, UBM India, said, "As per UBM India's recent study with D&B, in 2014, the gems and jewellery sector contributed 6-7 per cent to India's GDP. India is also one of the largest consumers of gold globally and accounts for nearly 20 per cent share of global consumption. South India is the country's major consumer of gold and the biggest market for jewellery of all types. While diamond processing units have been set up in Trichur and Coimbatore, other cities in South India specialize in different forms of jewellery; Coimbatore specialises in casting jewellery, Trichur in lightweight gold jewellery and diamond cutting, Belgaum and Nellore in jewellery studded with synthetic stones, Nellore for handmade jewellery that is supplied to the Chennai market. UBM India's endeavour through GJIIE is to support such centres of jewellery and provide a continuous impetus to the jewellers and the industry at large."

According to Rajesh Vummidi, Chairman, MJDMA, "India's organised jewellery retail is still nascent, but the opportunity for growth is unlimited. With young India's growing passion for branded jewellery, the big picture is one of optimism. The sector is witnessing changes in consumer preferences, as the westernisation of lifestyle is responsible for changes in the buying habits of the consumer. Consumers are demanding new designs and varieties in jewellery, and branded jewellers are able to fulfill their changing demands better than the local unorganised players."

"The need of the hour is going to be the way one is going to market its products as a lot of jewellery consumers in India are youngsters who care more about design, style and seasonal trends. For this reason, aggressive branding, marketing and product placement is increasingly becoming visible amongst retailers. The consumers today judge value from a holistic perspective. They look for certified, hallmarked jewellery. Our products are not only hallmarked, but also certified by qualified third-party international laboratories," adds Jayantilal Chalani, President, MJDMA.