Facets 2009, fillip for gem and jewellery industry

by Asha SENEVIRATHNE

The leading gem merchants were overwhelmed with the end of terrorism in the country and expect the gem industry in the country to boom with more export orders and the increase in the arrival of tourists to the island.

Facets 2009 international gem and jewellery exhibition will be held this week at the BMICH for the 18th year in succession promises new markets and export development for the local gem and jewellery trade as some countries not affected by the global economic down turn will participate in this event.

The defeat of terrorism and the ending of the war is also a positive factor for the gem and jewellery trade as it was affected by terrorism in the country, the gem traders said.Facets Sri Lanka 2009 will be held at BMICH from September 3 to 6 and it will offer new opportunities for the local gem and jewellery industry this year to achieve a leading share in the global gem trade.

This year's Facets Sri Lanka 2009 will serve as a platform for leading gemstone trade in advancing economies such as Russia, India and China to start sourcing from Sri Lanka as well as to explore market opportunities in Hong Kong, Myanmar and Iraq as they arrive in anticipation of sealing trade links with the Sri Lanka industry.

Facets 2009 exhibition offering the local industry a very good opportunity to venture into new markets such as the US or Hong Kong and Europe, says Chanaka Ellawala, Chairman, Facets Organising Committee.Russia, China, Myanmar and Thailand will also participate in Facets 2009 while India and other South Asian nations will also be represented.

We are confident that trade delegations and stalls of foreign countries will provide opportunities for the development of local gem and jewellery trade, said Ellawala.