The hosting of World Jewellery Confederation annual gathering – or CIBJO Congress 2017 – in Thailand enhances the Kingdom’s position as the world’s gems and jewellery trading hub
BANGKOK, 17 October, 2017 – The Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of International Trade Promotion, is hosting the World Jewellery Confederation annual gathering or CIBJO Congress 2017, from 5 to 7 November, in Bangkok.
The congress opening ceremony on 6 November will be presided over by Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha.
Ms. Duangkamol Jiambutr, GIT Director, said Thailand’s hosting of one of the world’s most important events for gems and jewellery industry followed the Thai cabinet resolution and the government’s policy to drive Thailand towards being the world’s gems and jewellery trading hub.
“This international conference will showcase Thailand’s gems and jewellery competitiveness to the world and enhance the country’s image as the world class gems and jewellery trading hub within 2021,” she added.
The CIBJO Congress 2017 in Bangkok is expected to attract more than 300 delegates from 42 countries.
Thailand’s gems and jewellery is one of the leading industries that tremendously contributed to overall revenue and created more than one million jobs throughout its value chain. About 80% of the overall manufactured products are exported and 20% is for domestic consumption.
In 2016, Thailand was ranked in 10th place for world’s gems and jewellery, including unwrought gold, exporter with exporting values of US$ 14,246.83 million (500,000 million Baht) which accounted for 3.49% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
In 2017, the export value of gems and jewellery in the first eight months reached US$ 8,400 million (290,000 million Baht). This made gems and jewellery the third most important export product for Thailand.
With its headquarters in Bern, Switzerland, the World Jewellery Confederation or CIBJO is the oldest international organisation in jewellery sector, having originally been established in 1926. The annual CIBJO Congress serves as the official gathering place for its Assembly of Delegates, and also the venue for the annual meetings of its sectorial commissions.
To enhance the positioning of Thailand as the world’s hub for gems and jewellery, GIT will launch the first World Ruby Forum 2017 on 4 November.
