Entire Annual Report - Anglo American Platinum

Platinum jewellery is firmly established in China, occupying a significant proportion of counter space in most jewellerystores in medium and large Chinese cities. Consumer demand for platinum jewellery remained firm in 2000, during whichperiod platinum maintained its position as the preferred white metal. However, volatile platinum prices caused sporadicsupply shortages. Tax at the manufacturer level also affected production. The jewellery trade is lobbying authorities fortaxation of platinum jewellery to be brought into line with the lower rates levied on gold.IndiaPGI successfully launched an Indian marketing campaign for platinum jewellery in September 2000. At present thecampaign involves two jewellery manufacturers and twenty retailers based in Delhi and Mumbai. The campaign will beextended to other cities this year. India already possesses a strong jewellery culture, about 650 tons of gold being consumedannually, and even a small share of this market would be significant in terms of overall platinum jewellery demand.South AfricaAnglo Platinum continues to support the local platinum jewellery industry by means of competitions,workshops, training and co-operative advertising. A glittering event to award the winners of the PlatAfricaJewellery Competition was staged at the Sandton Sun and was attended by the Minister of Mineralsand Energy, other government members and captains of industry.Once again the competition attracted numerous beautiful entries, all expressing the “AfricanRenaissance” theme.To promote awareness of South African talent overseas, the PlatAfrica 2000 Collection waslaunched at the South African Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, and then went on exhibition in 47outlets of the prestigious Takashimaya Department Store throughout Japan. Several pieceswere sold to Japanese buyers.Successful training workshops on platinum product knowledge were held atJewellex 2000 to enlighten the jewellery industry on the complexities of theplatinum industry.The Hans Merensky Platinum Studio at the Technikon Pretoria, whichis sponsored in part by Anglo Platinum, Impala Platinum and LonminPlatinum, continues to achieve outstanding results in competitionand to train innovative and talented young manufacturers.37