Jeweller - November Issue 2017

INDIAN JEWELLERY FAIR
Australia on show at
Indian jewellery fair
WHILE THE INDIA INTERNATIONAL JEWELLERY
SHOW IN MUMBAI IS ONE OF THE INDUSTRY’S
LARGEST, FEW PEOPLE REALISE THE IMPORTANCE
OF AUSTRALIA TO THE INDIAN DIAMOND
MARKET. COLEBY NICHOLSON REPORTS.
he prestigious India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) is always a large
and busy event and this year’s 34th edition was no different. Organised
by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and running
in late July, the trade fair’s exhibitor numbers peaked at more than 2,200
and visitor numbers increased to more than 35,000 compared to the previous
year’s 33,500.
Visitors came from not only India but also from the Middle East, South East Asia,
the Far East and Australia.
Perhaps more than ever before, this year’s show demonstrated the connection
between the Indian and Australian diamond markets. On entering the major
exhibition halls one could not help but notice the large and prominent advertising
for Rio Tinto Australian diamonds.
In addition to having a prominent marketing message at the event, Rio Tinto’s vice
president of sales and marketing, Alan Chirgwin, took an active role in the official
inauguration of the show.
Noting that this year’s IIJS was the 34th edition, Chirgwin said, “This is a significant
number for Rio Tinto because it’s also 34 years since we began mining for alluvial
diamonds from our Argyle diamond mine.
“Thirty four years ago, very few people would have predicted that diamonds
from creek beds and streams in a remote part of Western Australia would lead
to a strategic partnership with India, creating new markets for fashion jewellery
in the world’s largest retail diamond jewellery market.”
Chirgwin went on to explain that as the Argyle mine virtually doubled world
diamond production overnight, the Indian diamond industry worked hand
in glove with Rio Tinto to truly understand the supply chain in order to create
demand for Argyle diamonds.
FUTURE GOALS
GJEPC chairman Praveenshankar Pandya also outlined the council’s vision to
boost gross export revenue of Indian gemstones and jewellery from its current
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