GJEPC to promote “Designed and Made in India” Jewels
MUMBAI, India, August 7, 2011 – India will promote its design and manufacturing skills in a branding drive to boost the prestige of its gem and jewellery exports around the world, said Rajiv Jain, Chairman of The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).
Rajiv Jain
Jain also said he expected all-time high numbers of visitors and exhibitors at the current edition of the four-day India International Jewellery Show (IIJS), which runs until August 8.
Speaking on the sidelines of the IIJS, he told Jewellery Outlook in an interview that he expected visitor s to rise by some 20 percent year-on-year to in excess of 30,000 at the 2011 IIJS, and that the number of booths was forecast to increase by 5 percent to over 1,700.
He said more than 800 companies were taking part, and that about 300 companies were on a waiting list to exhibit at IIJS, but there was no space at the venue to expand.
Footfall was heavy at IIJS 2011 and the mood among exhibitors was buoyant, as Jain predicted 15-16 percent growth in Indian gem and jewellery exports by value year-on-year into 2012.
Asked to outline state-backed GJEPC’s plans to market Indian jewellery around the world, Jain said. “It has to be Made in India – plus Designed in India. If it is just ‘Made in India’, it gives the impression that it is manufactured in India but designed somewhere else. To foster the image of design capabilities, we have created IIJW (India International Jewellery Week).”
He added, “‘Designed and Made in India’.”
Vice Chairman GJEPC Sanjay Kothari, Chairman GJEPC Rajiv Jain, Harish Jhaveri, Sonam Kapoor and Minister of State for Tourism Mr. Subodh Kant Sahai
The India International Jewellery Week (IIJW), which ran from July 31 to August 4 at the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai, staged catwalk shows with Bollywood glamour, to showcase the skills of India’s best designers – from up-and-coming stars, alumni of the GIA, such as Nehal Shah, to more established designers like Anand Shah and Laksh Pahuja.
FOCUS ON CHINA
Jain said the GJEPC would focus its energies on boosting recognition and sales of Indian product in its main market, the United States, and on driving forward promotional efforts in China, a growing market, and other Far Eastern countries.
Other potential growth markets for Indian gems and jewellery included the CIS countries and Latin America, he added.
The GJEPC also plans to invite some UK designers to visit India and work with local manufacturers with a view to staging India pavilions at UK trade fairs, possibly starting with The Jewellery Show in Birmingham, Jain said. He gave no time frame.
“The idea is to go to the UK and have India pavilions at some time,” Jain said.
