The Bangkok Fair featured 1,300 exhibitors from Thailand and around the world. There was a mixed review among the exhibitors. While the absence of some of the major buyers from the Gulf and other Muslim countries were felt, most of the exhibitors agreed that the show seemed to be slack. Citing the show to be average as compared to the previous years, Ashish Gandhi of BHC Co. Ltd. said that the customers were not ready to pay new prices. In view of this, he advocated the softening of the rough diamond prices to enable manufacturers to make profits. He also believed that the political problems in Thailand are hampering the gems and jewellery industry in the country. Govind Gupta of Cubic World Co. Ltd believed that there had been a growing preference for synthetic gemstones and CZ jewellery. This had resulted in the decline of the demand for semi-precious stones. He added that though the turnout in the show was less, but there was more visibility of jewellers serious to do business at the Show.
With the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gems Fair immediately following the Bangkok show, there was an influx of foreign delegates to the former. Ashok Sakaria of HV Jewels Co. Ltd. believed that improvement and proper promotion of the show was imperative. He quoted, “There is very little gap between the Bangkok and Hong Kong shows. So nobody has so much time to linger at one show. The Show organisers need to put in more efforts and promote the event in a different way. I hardly saw any foreign delegations visiting the Show. We are exhibiting in Hong Kong and expect better business there.”
In keeping with the concept “Variety of Gems”, there were two new additions to the September Bangkok Fair, namely the introduction of the Diamond Fine Pavilion and the Queen’s Cup Ploi Thai Jewellery Awards.
The much awaited Zero Vat legislation is due to be announced any time now in the Royal Gazette. Hence, in co-operation with the embassies of various rough producing countries, the Bangkok Fair had an especially dedicated Zero Vat Pavilion for rough gemstones from around the world. This gave the Thai lapidaries access to rough supplies, which had dwindled in the recent past.
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