Gem of an international opportunity to shine

By Charmaine FERNANDO

With the gloom and darkness of terror lifted, there is new hope, for Sri Lanka. Buyers from China, Russia, Myanmar, India and Middle East were in Sri Lanka to be a part of the glimmer and glitter of Facets, the much looked forward to Sri Lanka International Gem & Jewellery Show, said Chanaka Ellawala, Chairman, Facets Organizing Committee, at the opening ceremony, at BMICH, recently.

Ministers, Government officials, private sector businessmen, foreign buyers and local jewellers were present.

There were over 40 stalls displaying various facets of the industry. Over a hundred registered buyers have shown interest in purchasing gems and jewellery and the import export trade too have shown serious desire to do business here, he said.

The government has made many new policies and taken fiscal measures to promote the trade. Promotions are carried out through our foreign missions to entice foreign investors in to direct investments and collaborations with the local gem and jewellery industry said Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion & Minister of Mass Media and Information.

SMEs have been participating for the past five years and this time their involvement has more in-depth thrust with strategic planning and special emphasis on designs that sell.

Among many foreign jewellers who have taken stalls, Royal Enterprises, have arrived from Hong Kong to showcase their precious ware; exclusive contemporary jewellery made for the fashionable and elite. Their market is the high-end clientele from LA, New York, top-end cities of Europe and big cities of Asia.

They foresee that such up-market clientele will arrive here and wish to catch their eye and make a lasting profitable deal. They said they are looking at some varieties of gems from Sri Lanka for purchase. UBM India, is an Exhibition Organizer who specializes in jewellery exhibitions all over the world.

They saw potential here. Kranti Nagvekar, Regional Director - South Asia from UBM (United Business Media) India was concerned and outspoken. She said that Sri Lanka is very slow in moving and misses out on opportunities in this dynamic business of gems and jewellery without changing strategies to keep up with the speed of modern day businesses.

The Government is doing a lot to promote investment and is offering many BOI incentives. The local and international businesses should take this opportunity to come to Sri Lanka, now that the coast is clear and the country is poised to take off to a robust new dimension. We are happy to be associated with Facets and Sri Lanka and will continue to strengthen our relations, she said.

At a time Asia is blossoming out no Asian country wants to be backward. Dynamism pays. She said she has brought in through her company contacts many Indian business people to Facets and they were very happy that they came. More promotions must be done with related industries in India and she proposes that Sri Lanka collaborates with India banking on their design prowess while Sri Lanka can ride the wave of sources.

An outstanding creativity caught my eye. There were huge smokey pink quartz stones set in silver turning out a brilliant piece of jewellery meant for a bracelet. A lady with an eye for design and class was trying it out. This young lad from Galle, Geeth Harindra Nagahawatta, the proprietor of Menara Jewellers, confesses he has had no proper training nor qualifications in the art of jewellery making; only hands on experience at a work place where he picked up the basics.

He has regular German buyers who grab a good thing when they see it but whether he has the talent to market it profitably is another story. He said he gets paid a few euro per piece of hardwork. Facets is a breeding ground for such raw talent said an officer from EDB is promoting the young lad with an eye for jewellery making. It is amazing how they bloom through government backing, guiding, mentoring and financial support.

The beauty of Facets is that it stands as an international platform of opportunity to showcase your products irrespective of the fact that you are a small-timer or a mass-scale exporter. I met Roshini Sangani who manages Alankara, a jewellery outlet that markets its authentic, factory manufactured products made of platinum and 18 carat white gold.

Their manufacturing plant in Panadura, Alankara SKR, is a Israeli collaboration and manufactures exclusively for overseas up-markets utilising state-of-the-art manufacturing process. There are over a hundred employees who are trained to use sophisticated jewellery making machinery to turn out the latest 'Alito' branded jewellery.

She believes collaboration can bring in modern methods, markets and design strengths which gives one the satisfaction that you have uplifted the Sri Lankan jewellery industry. She says Sri Lankan jewellery businesses can reach new heights with foreign investments and collaboration which widens horizons and scope for the industry.