Facets 2011 begins today

Hans-Georg Wild to be guest of honour:

World renowned gem trader and the Managing Director of Paul Wild, Germany, Hans-Georg Wild, will participate as the guest of honour at the opening ceremony of FACETS Sri Lanka 2011 which opens at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre today.

Sri Lanka's only international gem and jewellery exhibition FACETS Sri Lanka 2011 is organized by the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA).

Macky Hashim

National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) is the principal sponsor of FACETS Sri Lanka 2011.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) is also a sponsor of the event.

SLGJA Chairman Macky Hashim said all arrangements are in place for FACETS Sri Lanka 2011 chief guest of the opening ceremony will be Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa. Hans-Georg Wild and the Russian delegation organized by the EDB and the Chinese delegation organized by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing will participate as guests of honour at the event. There will be 145 exhibition booths and out of these 80 percent will be local exhibitors and balance exhibitors are from Myanmar and the South Asian region.

There will be business delegations and individual visitors from India, Thailand, Myanmar, Europe and the USA.

There has been a significant increase in the number of visitors to the show over the years. Last year there were nearly 5,000 visitors to the show and 20 percent of them were foreign buyers.

This year organizers expect a 20 percent to 30 percent increase in the number of visitors.

"We have organized special arrangements for foreign visitors during their stay in Sri Lanka. Representatives of the organizing committee will be at the airport to welcome the foreign visitors and a special transport service has been arranged for these visitors," Hashim said.

Plans have been made to organize meetings between these foreign buyers and relevant ministries, authorities and the private sector to promote the local gem and jewellery industry.

Organizers expect to take these foreign visitors to gem mines in Sri Lanka to educate them on the local industry.

He also said as SLGJA chairman and as the chairman of the FACETS organizing committee for seven years he is proud of and satisfied with the contribution FACETS has made to the nation.

FACETS has now completed 21 years and is recognized as the vehicle to promote the Sri Lankan gem and jewellery industry globally.

FACETS has made a significant contribution to the nation as the only international gem and jewellery exhibition to promote this legendary industry. FACETS is a major achievement of local gem and jewellery industry. It also showcases the benefits of public-private partnership efforts, he said.