Conceived by DITP in 2020, BGJF Virtual Trade Fair is a digital edition of the Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair (BGJF) designed to support the export of gems and jewelry during the COVID-19 pandemic. The online platform uniquely combines product showcases and online business matching sessions, enabling entrepreneurs to trade without borders amid the time of travel restrictions. After positive feedback for two years, BGJF Virtual Trade Fair 2022, which is the third edition, is held again this year.
The BGJF Virtual Trade Fair 2022 consists of three main activities, namely the Virtual Stores of over 300 Thai exhibitors that can be viewed online, the Online Business Matching (OBM) session where buyers can make appointments and do trade negotiations free of charge, and the Special Activities like the online seminars on 'the gems and jewelry industry', and 'the gems and jewelry trend forecasts'. "It is expected that this digital event will be joined by international buyers from four corners of the world, including Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, North America and South America," said the Director-General.
Following this online event, DITP will host the full-scale 67th Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair between 7-11 September 2022, at Challenger Hall 1-3, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, the first after a long pause for over two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To leap forward, DITP has signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (Public Organization) or GIT in co-organizing Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair. The partnership will expectedly streamline the management of the BGJF event and increase agility. It is estimated that the upcoming fair will be joined by more than 700 exhibitors from Thailand and over 10,000 buyers and importers from all over the world, while at least 1.2 billion baht worth of orders are expected to take place immediately in the event.
Mr. Phusit added that to drive the exports of Thai gems and jewelry, DITP has taken the proactive strategies, following the market-led policy initiated by Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce. The strategies include the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with trade partners, the recent of which is the one with Kofu city of Japan, the hosting of virtual trade fairs like BGJF Virtual Trade Fair, and the organization of special activities to support local entrepreneurs like Phuket Gems and Jewelry Fest by Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair held in Phuket last year. With these initiatives, DITP is confident that the goal for gems and jewelry exports of 234,000 million baht, an increase of 20%, will be achieved in 2022. So far, it is a positive sign since in the first trimester of this year, the exports of gems and jewelry (excluding gold) reached a value of 62,546 million baht, which is a 55% increase.
Source: K.I.Z.Z
