COLOMBO:Sri Lanka will participate in Japan’s largest international jewellery trade show in 2015. A wide variety of products in the jewellery industry gathers under one roof, at the world trend-setting city, Tokyo.
Sri Lanka could increase the US$ one billion overall export target in 2016, if the local gem/precious stone exports were encouraged and developed targeting international markets. Therefore, participating for international trade shows should help to capture news markets, Director Marketing and Export -National Gem and Jewellery Authority, Rohan Perera said.
We are now looking at increasing gem exports to China being the biggest buyer in the recent past and intend to promote countries like Japan and USA, which were one time biggest markets for Sri Lanka,” Perera told Daily News Business.
The demand for Sri Lankan unheated blue sapphire is very high and Sri Lanka is unable to cater to the major market demand. However, the demand from European Union (EU) countries for gems has been shrinking due to the recession there. Gem and jewellery exports have increased with Russia, China, Italy and many Middle East countries in Japan is a gateway to expand Sri Lanka’s business in Japan and the Asian region is expected to participate with local gem business persons, which will be held from January 21to 24 at Tokyo Big Sight, Authority sources said.
