FACET 2010, Gem and Jewelry Exhibition attracts buyers from several countries

Large groups of buyers were drawn to the exhibition yesterday,
particularly from China and Russia which are emerging as important
markets for Sri Lanka’s gem trade.  Mr. Chanaka Ellawala, head of the
organising committee of the exhibition said foreign participation had
been increasing over the years, and this year’s buyers include
delegations from Azerbaijan, India, Tanzania, Myanmar, Thailand and
Hong Kong.
Reports said that there were nearly 200 people from Yunnan province of
China at the exhibition.  Governor of China’s Yunnan province Qin
Guangrong who led the Chinese team to the show said Yunnan was the hub
of jewelry for China and south east Asia with some 600,000 people
employed in the sector.
Sri Lanka’s finest gems and Jewellery are on display at this
exhibition. The fair is to showcase a wide variety of sapphires and
gemstones from producers and wholesalers from all the main gem and
jewelry producing areas of Sri Lanka.
A Special Collector’s gemstone corner at the exhibition will provide
the visitor with the opportunity of viewing some of the rare and
important gemstone pieces and materials.
The exhibition is spread over two large convention halls. The main
hall mainly displays precious and semiprecious gems and the second
hall is exclusively dedicated to jewelry, lapidary, and machinery
items.
Producers and wholesalers from the main gemstone producing countries
in Africa, Asia, South America, and Australia have also been invited
to exhibit their gemstone products at the show, the organizers say
Gem and jewelry exports from Sri Lanka have been increasing over the
years and have become a key source of foreign exchange earnings. The
jewelry and jade trade is worth about three billion US dollars.(niz).

Courtesy: Government Information Department