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Sri Lanka's total export earnings from the gems and jewellery industry from Japan which is a leading importer of Sri Lankan gems and jewellery have steadily increased by 17 per cent from last year, a press release from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tokyo said.

With the launching of the Sapphire promotion in the Japanese market last year, there had been a tremendous awareness in Japan with regard to Sri Lankan gems. In addition the year 2003, has been declared as the year of the Sapphire in Japan.

Some of the precious stones exported from Sri Lanka.

As a continuation of the global sapphire promotional campaign launched by the Sri Lanka Government in 2002, the Sri Lanka Embassy in Japan too organised a Ceylon Sapphire promotion in Tokyo recently with the support of the Japan Jewellery Association and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, to create a brand image and recognition for the Ceylon Sapphire in the Japanese market.

The main focus of the event attended by over 50 participants, at the residence of Sri Lanka's Ambassador Karunatilaka Amunugama recently in Japan was how to market more Sri Lanka gems in Japan.

Chairman of the Japan Jewellery Association Yukihiro Kuwayama, Chairman of the Jewellery Day Committee Michio Fukui and the Chief Editor of the Grand Magazine, Kuniyuki Okawa and leading Japanese importers were among the invitees for the special promotional campaign in Tokyo.

A gem mining site in Kuruwita.

Addressing members of the Japanese Jewellery Trade, Ambassador Amunugama explained the significance of the gem industry in Sri Lanka and its recent developments in the cutting and finishing sector that produce stones with a highest international standards while positioning as one of the five most important gem bearing nations of the world.

He said that they consider the event a great opportunity for Sri Lanka to expand the market share for the Ceylon Sapphire in the Japanese market and to create a brand image among Japanese customers. The Ambassador said that the Ceylon Sapphire promotional event in Japan is a continuation of the series of events organised by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Japan jointly with the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, under the 17th Jewellery Campaign program launched in Japan by the Japan Jewellery Association, which is the apex body in the Japanese Gem and Jewellery Industry.

Speaking on behalf of the Japanese Jewellery Industry Yukihiro Kuwayama, Chairman of Japan Jewellery Association said that with the forthcoming demand for jewellery among Japanese women, the jewellery trade in Japan will grow in the future".

He said that while Diamonds have been classified as the king of precious stones, the Sapphire produced in Sri Lanka is being called as the queen of precious stones due to the recognition in the Japanese market.

Chairman Kuwayama said that the Japanese jewellery market has always been attracted by high quality and charming gemstones from Sri Lanka and he is confident that Sri Lanka's share of the Japanese gem and jewellery market would further improve.

Under the Global Sapphire promotional campaign, the Sri Lanka Embassy in Japan has carried out more than twenty promotional events in Japan since 2002, which includes, special Sapphire campaign programs launched by the Japan Jewellery Association, Ceylon Sapphire displays in leading department stores around Japan, press interviews and fashion shows.

The Ceylon Sapphire promotional program organised by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Tokyo in collaboration with the Japan Jewellery Association included a product display on Ceylon Sapphire including traditional jewellery from Sri Lanka, a photographic exhibition on the gem industry in Sri Lanka and a video presentation.

During the promotional campaign held in Tokyo, some of the Ceylon sapphire jewellery with exclusive designs, reputed Sapphire stones and traditional Sapphire jewellery from Sri Lanka were on display for the Japanese participants.

The photographic exhibition and video presentation on Sri Lanka's gem industry gave an opportunity for the visitors to get first hand experience on the gem mining industry in Sri Lanka.

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