Pics by Rons Bantwal
News: JCKindia
Mumbai, Aug 7: The 26th India International Jewellery Show, was inaugurated by Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ashok Chavan in Mumbai today. The minister lit the lamp in the presence of Vasant Mehta, Rajiv Jain, Sabyasachi Ray and Sanjay Kothari, as exhibitors and members of domestic and international press looked on.
Chairman of the GJEPC, Vasant Mehta in his address to the gathering said that the IIJS has now become a jewel in the crown of the Indian G&J industry. Mehta said the show has grown from humble beginnings and achieved the rare distinction of today having more than 18000 domestic and 1500 international pre-registered visitors.
Mehta said he expected to see a spurt in sales of 20 percent for the participants at the show this year.
Taking advantage of the presence of the chief minister Mehta chose to raise the two most pressing issues for the gems and jewelry industry. The first being the need for an international level convention centre and the second the inconvenience caused by the octroi on polished diamonds in the state of Maharashtra.
The chairman said that there has long been a need for a convention/exhibition center in Mumbai and this is an issue that has been raised with the Union and the State government many times in the past. The octroi problem too has been niggling traders in Maharashtra, so much so that many large players have now shifted base to neighboring Gujarat where no such octroi exists.
The Chief Minister in his address thanked the gathering and the executive committee for showing faith in him by inviting him twice for the inauguration of the IIJS. He assured the industry that the government was fully prepared to support the industry in any way it could. He also assured that the issue of the convention centre would be taken up very soon and all efforts would be made to ensure that the project was passed as soon a possible.
Immediate past chairman of the GJEPC Sanjay Kothari wrapped up the ceremony with a vote of thanks after which the Chief Minister attended a press briefing.