More participants for Facets

Anjana Samarasinghe

There was a good response for Facets Sri Lanka, the 17th International Gem and Jewellery show which commenced at the BMICH yesterday.

The show is organised by the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association. Chairman of the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association Chanaka Ellawala told Daily News Business that they doubted this year's participation due to the circumstances in the country but there was a good response for the event.

"Though it is too early to talk of the success of the event, during the first day of the show we witnessed a large participation of both foreign and local visitors. There was a sudden increase in tourist arrivals in this month and this also helped the increase of the foreign participation even on the first day of the event," he said.

Ellawala said during the first day of the event there were buyers from US, Japan and Thailand. "Apart from our regular foreign visitors there were new visitors as well. We are targeting 500 foreigners for this year's event," he said.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of Facets Sri Lanka, Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion, Sarath Amunugama said that gem and jewellery exports have recorded USD 450 million while diamond exports have contributed a lot for the total earnings.

"Gem and Jewellery sector is a million-dollar industry and expansion of the tourism industry could heavily boost this sector," he said. Minister of Export Development and International Trade, Prof. G.L Peiris said the industry should focus on a quality certification process to assure the quality of the gems to international buyers.

"It is important to consider more on regulations of gem mining and environmental impact on gem mining," he said.

There are over 100 exhibition booths at the exhibition. Apart from local exhibitors there were exhibitors from Myanmar, Thailand and Singapore. The show will conclude on September 2.