Rain Doesn’t Stop Play at IIJS

The heavy rain that marked the opening of the India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) may not have visibly deterred visitors, but it certainly emphasized the pertinence of comments made by the Gem and Jewellery Promotion Council’s (GJEPC) chairman, Sanjay Kothari, about the need for a purpose-built exhibition center in Mumbai. As the doors opened, hasty attempts were made to stem dripping ceilings and mop up wet floors at the NSE Complex in Goregaon.

Ignoring any atmospheric challenges, the show began with the traditional lamp lighting ceremony and a wish for a prosperous show.

In his opening speech, Kothari said that a new exhibition center was needed in order to fulfill the council’s vision to make IIJS into the third largest trade show after Basel and JCK Las Vegas. He also mentioned the new Indian show, IIJS Signature Goa, which will take place in February. This show, he said, will be on the level of the Hong Kong or Vicenza fairs and will be marketed as a good venue for foreign visitors to mix business and pleasure. 

The show’s guest of honor, Shri Ashwani Kumar, minister of state for industries, told Kothari that he will do his best to push forward the building of a 10,000-seater convention center. This is the first time that a government minister has paid serious attention to the matter.

The minister also told the gathering that one of the biggest effects of economic liberalization and globalization has been the radical change that has come about in the gems and jewelry sector, in retail in particular. “The industry provides entertainment to nearly 30 lakhs [three million] people,” he said, “and the need of the hour is to fill the gap of jewelry designing and manufacturing specialists required in the sector for its further growth.”

Although the first day of any show tends to be quiet, the floor here was fairly busy, and exhibitors were expressing satisfaction with the amount of traffic.

While many visitors were local, jewelers from smaller metro areas, such as Nadiad in the west of India, were also in attendance. One exhibitor noted that there seemed to be a greater number of foreign visitors walking around, as well as more international exhibitors.

Traders were also upbeat about the number of visitors expected to attend the show. There have been 17,000 pre-registrations and hopes are high that the final number of attendees will exceed 25,000, with the greatest number of visitors expected on Sunday.