Indo/U.S. Jewelry Summit to Kick Off Next Week

The second Indo/U.S. Jewellery Business Relationship Development Conference will begin in Mumbai next week, September 8. The event will include two days of panel discussions, keynote speeches and a series of 45-minute ‘speed dates’ between nine U.S. retailers and wholesalers and eleven Indian jewelry manufacturers.

Following the first two days of the conference, the U.S. trade delegates will split up for two days of personalized factory tours inside and outside Mumbai’s SEEPZ.

The U.S. delegation consists of Sterling’s Kay and Jared Division; Fred Meyer Jewelers; Reeds of North Carolina; Herteen & Stocker Jewelers and Wickersham Jewelry representing RJO; Bergstrom Jewelers and Becker Jewelers representing Leading Jewelers of the World; Cardow Jewelers of the U.S. Virgin Islands and fine jewelry designer and wholesaler Temple St. Clair.

In addition to Rio Tinto as the event’s lead sponsor, the Indian Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has assembled eleven manufacturing sponsors: Elegant Collection, Fine Jewellery, Goldiam International, Jewelex, KP Sanghavi, Minestone, Mohit, Shrenuj, SNC Jewels, Sunjewels Eleganza and Supergems.

Commenting on last year’s summit, Craig Underwood, president of the American Gem Society (AGS) and principal of Underwood’s Fine Jewelers said, “The GJEPC trip to India was one of the best business events I have ever had the opportunity to attend…While I have had some dealings with Indian manufacturers in the past, my knowledge about the advantages in dealing with an Indian manufacturer was quite limited.

By attending the GJEPC trip, I gained a whole new insight into the advantages of buying from Indian manufacturers and I was able to discover several new sources that have become valuable partners in the growth of our business.”