Not only did the International Chanthaburi Gems and Jewelry Festival 2021-2022 successfully reinforce the province’s image as a "World-class City of Gems", but it also boosted purchases during the Chinese New Year, generating sales orders of 65 million baht with business matching agreement projected to be more than 240 million baht.
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In a bid to promote the province as the “World-class City of Gems”, the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand, or GIT, joined forces with Chanthaburi provincial authorities, Chanthaburi Gem and Jewelry Traders Association Thailand, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and a number of other public and private organizations to host the "International Chanthaburi Gems and Jewelry Festival 2021-2022" under the concept “Chanthaburi: City of Gems” between 3 – 7 February 2022 at the Chanthaburi Gems and Jewelry Center, KP Jewelry Center and Gems Market on Srichan Road. Boasting an excellent attendance of up to 11,480 persons, including buyers, the general public, and those interested, both Thai and foreign, the festival generated not only immediate sales of 64.83 million baht but also revenue for the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Mr. Sumed Prasongpongchai, director of the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand, revealed that although the Covid-19 pandemic persists, the Thai gems and jewelry industry has managed to robustly adapt to the situation as evidenced by 2021 export sales when gems and jewelry contributing as much as 194.7 billion baht to its economy, making it the country’s fifth-largest industry earner by revenue. This was the third International Chanthaburi Gems and Jewelry Festival, following a nearly two-year hiatus, to further consolidate the country’s position as a global gems and jewelry trading hub, especially Chanthaburi, and build consumer confidence in Thai gems and jewelry. The festival serves as a platform for entrepreneurs both in Chanthaburi and from all over eastern Thailand and the country to showcase their selection of superior-quality gem and jewelry products catering to aficionados and large buyers, both domestic and international.
Furthermore, there was a series of business matching activities organized with the support of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce, for an extensive portfolio of domestic and international target buyers, most notable representatives from potential foreign chambers of commerce in Thailand invited to participate in business negotiations with entrepreneurs through an on-site and online hybrid format. This includes the delegates from the Thai Italian Chamber of Commerce and world prestigious Italian designer Alessio Boschi, the Thai-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce, and Hong Kong Ladies’ Group. As a result, the event generated a total trade value of 248.38 million baht from overseas importers of which on-site business matching contributed 165 million baht and online business matching 83.38 million baht, an increase of 205% when compared to the 2019 edition that had a purchase value of 21.20 million baht.
Throughout the event, the festival attracted revenue of more than 200 million baht to the hospitality and tourism industries. The trade value and number of people attending the event are a testimony not only to the cooperation between the public and private sectors, but also the strength of the Thai gems and jewelry industry, which is recognized worldwide.
