Thailand eyes to become world jewelry hub

BANGKOK, September 7 (TNA) - The government, through the Ministry of Commerce, is promoting and developing Thailand to become a world jewelry hub in the foreseeable future. Thai Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong announced the policy on Friday while opening the 62nd Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair, set to be held at the IMPACT Arena, Exhibition and Convention Center in Muang Thong Thani on the outskirts of Bangkok during September 7-11. Sontirat pointed out that the Thai gem and jewelry industry has been a major driving force towards the national tourism and economic growth, as a number of jobs have been created together with creative value-added products. Sontirat acknowledged that Thai gems and jewelry products were the country's third largest export item last year, after automobiles and computer sets and accessories. During the first seven months of this year, the minister said, Thailand's exports of gems and jewelry, excluding gold jewelry, stood at about 4.32 billion US dollars, a 6.5 per cent year-on-year increase, and are expected to exceed 7 billion US dollars by the end of this year. The minister expressed his confidence for a promising prospect of Thai exports of gems and jewelry in the coming years, thanks to the "Buy With Confidence" (BWC) campaign, launched by the Thai Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT), in which a service on checking and issuing a GIT certificate for genuine gems and jewelry items is provided to clients, which has boosted more exports of the Thai products. According to the minister, the 62nd Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair is expected to attract more than 20,000 international visitors and to generate the total sale value of more than 2.2 billion baht. The 62nd Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair, themed the "Queen of Jewelry" in honor of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is divided into its business negotiation days when only business operators take part during September 7-9 and retail days when the general public are welcome during September 10-11. (TNA)