FACETS 2011 sold out

FACETS 2011 has received a high response with the confirmed participation of international buyers around the world for the show. Sri Lanka’s only international gem and jewellery show FACETS Sri Lanka will accelerate the government’s target of reaching US $ 1 billion through gem and jewellery exports by 2016. FACETS 2011, organized by the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) will be held from September 8 to 11 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre in Colombo for the 21st consecutive year.

SLGJA Secretary Ziqufi Ismail said “High profile international buyers have confirmed their participation for this year’s show. Online registrations have surpassed by 20% from the previous year’s numbers”.

He said three Chinese delegations have confirmed their participation for the event and there will be 27 members in the delegations. A Russian delegation with 16 members has also confirmed their participation.

Out of the 154 exhibition booths 147 has been sold out two weeks prior to the event which shows the keen interest of the exhibitors, he added.

“Sri Lankan diplomats around the world assisted immensely to promote FACETS 2011 internationally and the Export Development Board (EDB), who is our co-sponsor of the show, has facilitated a trade delegation from Russia for the show.

The FACETS 2011 is an ideal public private partnership project”, he said.

With the economic boom and the safety environment in the country there is a huge response for this year’s show, he said. The country’s main markets, Europe and the US are recovering from a recession.

FACETS organizers predict a strong presence of buyers from these markets as well as countries such as China and Russia with active promotion of trade to these countries.

“Many foreign buyers as well as buyer delegations from Russia, India and China have confirmed participation for FACETS. We have finalized all details of the delegations,” SLGJA Vice Chairman (Promotion and Trade Fairs) Juzar Adamaly said.

Organizers also have made arrangements to send over 10,000 brochures to individual buyers around the world through Sri Lankan Embassies and Consulates in various countries, and are hoping for a fair turnout at the show.