FACETS has become perfect platform to boost gem exports: organizers
The stage is set to host the iconic exhibition in the Gem and Jewellery Industry of Sri Lanka, FACETS 2019, which will commence on 29th August and continue until 1st September at the BMICH.
FACETS has become the face of the local industry to the global market by creating a platform that not only attracts international and local buyers and sellers in huge numbers, but also as a stepping stone to many an SME that is engaged in one of the oldest trades that Sri Lanka is world renowned for. Leading the FACETS committee this year is Altaf Iqbal, who is steadfast in his belief that FACETS will shed the positivity that Sri Lanka needs at present.
According to Iqbal, the event has expanded in numerous ways over the past 28 years. The number of exhibitors has increased with international delegations adding every year.
FACETS has grown beyond a mere exhibition by incorporating all the aspects of the gem and jewellery industry; such as lapidary, educational training, seminars and the inclusion of the SME sector. Most importantly, the quality of visitors, both local and international, has improved very much. “Today, FACETS is not an event that simply happens annually, but a promotion of the whole gem and jewellery industry of
Sri Lanka,” he claims.
FACETS has become an ambassador to Sri Lanka as it is being spoken of at all gemological societies and associations across the world. It is also highlighted in the international gem and jewellery calendar where buyers look forward to the ‘September Show’, as it is well known in the global circle.
Further elaborating on the impact FACETS has on the local industry and the economy of the nation, Iqbal stated, “The industry will continue to grow if there is free and easy movement of stones, both in rough as well as cut and polish form, in and out of the country.
“As such, FACETS becomes a perfect platform for these transactions to take place. The export of gems has been highly facilitated by FACETS by attracting foreign traders. There are buyers who have visited Sri Lanka for the first time, purely due to FACETS, and then continued to do so annually after that”.
Moreover, the event creates a benchmark for the local industry by giving access to international delegations, which makes them aware of ethical trading and the importance of maintaining the reputation of the industry. Retailers who cater to the tourist market are the main beneficiaries of this exposure.