Commerce Ministry to promote Thai gems through other countries

NONTHABURI, Sept 22 (TNA) -- The Commerce Minister plans to promote Thai gems and jewelry through Italy and other countries as the value of their export in the first eight months of this year grew by 5.5%. Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said that Thailand was asking Italy and other countries that were its partners in the gems and jewelry industry to help promote Thai products. Many countries were supporting Thailand in becoming a gems and jewelry center for its beautiful and meticulously made products. According to her, Thailand’s export of gems and jewelry from January to August was estimated at US$8.42 billion, rising 5.5%. She expected the export will reach US$14 billion or about 500 billion baht throughout this year. The gems and jewelry industry constituted 3.5% of the gross domestic product and the value of its export was the third biggest export value after automotive and computer export, Ms Apiradi said. To further promote the industry, the Commerce Ministry will hold the CIBJO Congress 2017 at Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok on Nov 2-7. The Gem and Jewelry Institute and the World Jewelry Confederation (CIBJO) are inviting 300-400 visitors in the industry from 42 countries. The congress will include the World Ruby Forum 2017. In the past three years, the government cut the import tariff on jewelry to 0% and fully provided convenient services for the industry to make Thailand the world’s gems and jewelry trading hub within 2021. (TNA)