Financial Times

Dealers from Myanmar at Colombo Gem show
By Quintus Perera
Last week’s Gem and Jewellery show in Colombo popularly known as FACETS, drew a group of participants from Myanmar (Burma) keen to look for buyers from Colombo. Ms Mra Khaing and her colleagues, in their own stalls said this was their second trip to Sri Lanka after taking part in the Ceylinco-sponsored Gem and Jewellery Exhibition in May this year.

Khaing said sales at that event was not so good as it was a small exhibition. “We learnt that the FACETS Sri Lanka 2005 would be a major exhibition and took another chance in participating. But we are certain of better sales as we have such an experience (taking part in big fairs) in other countries.” She has participated in gem and jewellery shows in Brunei, Malaysia, China, India, Hong Kong and has good business in those countries. "We understand like the Indians, Sri Lankans too are fond of jewellery."

Facets 2005 featured the latest designs in jewellery and the finest array of gemstones. One of the guests of honour at the event Allen Kleiman, President, A Kleiman & Co US and Secretary to the Board of Directors for the American Gem Traders Association which promotes Sri Lanka's coloured gems in the US.
Kleiman said that to promote Sri Lanka's gem industry to be the number one in the world, Sri Lankan gem traders should attend many international gem trade fairs across the world. He said that Sri Lanka's coloured gems are very popular in the US.

Macky Hashim, Chairman, Facets Organizing Committee said that in the international gem calendar September is marked as the prestigious Facets Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Trade Show. This year there was 50 percent more stalls than last year, totalling 150 and as such they had to move the venue to the BMICH from the five-star hotel venue of the past. He said that this year they were expecting sales in the region of US $ 1.7 million.

Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development, said the gem industry should regain its historical strengths as world renowned gems. He said that today the industry has been overtaken by other sectors like garments, now the biggest foreign exchange earner, even though garments are dependant on a lot of raw materials from overseas.
Ellawala Exporters (Pvt) Ltd, a top gem exporter in Sri Lanka, exhibited the highest valued gem in the show -- a 75-carat Cat's Eye valued at US $ 375,000 and an Alexandrite priced at US $ 22,500.

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