YANGON — Diamonds will be the focus of the 9th Myanmar International Gems, Jewelry and Watch Expo 2018 in Yangon, an industry association representative said.
The expo will be held at the Emporium Hall on Kabar Aye Pagoda Road from March 30 to April 2, said U Tun Hla Aung, secretary of the Myanmar Gems and Jewelry Entrepreneurs Association.
“Most of the exhibits will be diamond items. Imported gemological testing devices will also be showcased. The expo is being organized by Asiaconnect Co., and we are assisting them,” he said.
According to Asiaconnect, items of jewelry featuring rubies, sapphires, pearls, jade and the latest gemological technologies from Germany will also be on display.
The exhibition will feature more than 30 pavilions from Myanmar, Thailand, Hong Kong, Germany and India, U Tun Hla Aung said.
“Asiaconnect Co. has brought in foreign merchants, as well as equipment for making gold and silverware. This is beneficial to local businessmen. The government still doesn’t allow the display of gemstones, so only finished products will be showcased,” U Tun Hla Aung said.
The Myanmar Gems and Jewelry Entrepreneurs Association hopes local businessmen will be able to pick up some of the latest techniques for making value-added products from jade and gems.
“We have found that gold shops in Myanmar are usually crowded. Myanmar people love gems and gold. That’s why we have organized the exhibition,” Asiaconnect Co. director Michael Khaniss said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Previous Myanmar International Gems, Jewelry and Watch expos have featured new technologies from the U.S. and Germany.
Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.