BANGKOK: Thai gem and jewellery exports are expected to grow by 10 per cent to US$7.89 billion (Bt278 billion) this year, remaining among |the country’s top five export products. Malee Choklumlerd, director-general of the International Trade Promotion Department, said that exports of jewellery and ornaments this year should grow strongly to many markets, as Thai gems were recognised as quality products with good designs.
Last year, exports of jewellery and ornaments reached $7.18 billion. In the first three months of this year, exports of gem and jewellery, excluding gold, were up 3.1 per cent to US$3.36 billion. If they include gold, shipments of gem and jewellery were up 72.3 per cent to $4.72 billion in the first quarter.
As part of the government’s plan to promote gems and jewellery, the department will this year invite Fiera di Vicenza, a famous brand from Italy, to join the Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair this year. Thailand and Italian brands will also cooperate on organising a gem and jewellery fair between the two countries. Malee said that she recently met with Maurizio Di Trani, marketing and sales director to Fiera di Vicenza – an organiser of Vicenzaora, a famous gem and jewellery fair in Italy – to discuss cooperation to promote each country’s fairs.
Many Italian gem and jewellery traders will join this year’s fair, while producers of machinery for gem and jewellery enterprises will join the fair, as they want to penetrate the Thai market. The department will hold the 58th Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair from September 7-11 at Im-|pact Muang Thong Thani. About 30,000 participants from around the world are expected to attend the event.
