Adaab Hyderabad’ was the theme of the Fashion Show highlight of the inaugural day of the Hyderabad International Gems & Jewellery Exposition- 2005 (HIGJE), the first-ever major exhibition of gems and jewellery held in this famous ‘City of Pearls’. With this positive greeting, Hyderabad opened its doors to wider business opportunities via more B2B trade. More than 100 exhibitors from Jaipur, Kolkata, Chennai, Kerala, New Delhi and Mumbai participated in the expo that was held at the exhibition centre — HITEX, Hyderabad from August 13 to 15, 2005.

HIGJE 2005 was organized jointly by the Andhra Pradesh Gems & Jewellery Trading Federation and Hyderabad International Trade Expositions Limited under the patronage of Rashmikant Durlabhji, Convenor of the Jaipur Jewellery Show. “Hyderabad International Gems and Jewellery Exposition is something that took shape at the end of last year when representatives of the Andhra gems and jewellery industry approached Jaipur for their support and patronage”, he said.$$The fashion show, sponsored by Musaddilal Jewellers Exporters and co-sponsored by Tibarumal & Meena Jewellers, held on the same grounds was a tribute paid to the two important towns of gems and jewellery. Top models from India, adorned in jewellery set the stage alive. In spite of initial hiccups, the Show was inaugurated by State Minister of Tourism, Sugar & major industries, Commerce and Export Promotion Dr. Geeta Reddy J. who declared the show open by cutting the ribbon. She also took a round of various well conceived stalls.$$HITEX witnessed a unique confluence of tradition, culture and heritage of two very important princely towns — Hyderabad, the city of the Nizams, and Jaipur, the Capital of the Rajputs — that were distinguished in the jewellery which they showcased at the Expo.$$ Loose gems, gem-studded jewellery, diamond-studded jewellery, synthetic diamonds, pearls, kundan jewellery were dazzling on display at the Show.

Reaction to the Show was mixed but a positive. More than 20% of the exhibitors from Jaipur did not strike the expected deals as they found that the products they carried were not for this market. Many of could did do fair business and received a lot of enquiries. They are positive that business deals would come through at a later stage. “It’s a initial stage of trust. This is the first time we are here and do not expect miracles. It will take time,” said some of them. “This is the beginning,” said many others.$$Besides locals and people from neighbouring states, there were a couple of visitors from Hong Kong too. “It’s all very traditional,” said a visitor.$$Vimmudi Bhangaru & Sons, one of the leading jewellery houses of Chennai, has been in the industry for over a century. Jitentra V. of the fourth generation of the house, was in Hyderabad for the first time. “It was my great grandfather who shifted from Andhra to Chennai many many years ago. Some time in 1905. We have always received customers from Andhra to our shop in Chennai. Since we speak the same language they are more comfortable with us and we offer something which is not available in Andhra Pradesh. This is the first time we have come to Hyderabad. We have been to Vijayawada, in Kakinada… Last year we did a show that was good. Customers who visited us came back to our shop in Chennai. So this encouraged us to participate in the present Show. Probably in the near future we may put up a shop in Hyderabad.”%%Satish Agarwal of Kundan Jewellers & Exports, a family concern, was one of the exhibitors at the HIGJE-05. He said: “An exhibition of this scale will give us an opportunity to showcase our products. We have over 40 jewellers from Jaipur and also there are others from Mumbai and Delhi. We definitely expect them to come forward again. It will not just be local sales but national level sales.”$$Talking on the organization of the Show, he added: “Promotion has been very poor. More promotion has been done by the stall owners individually. They too have done it by inserting small ads in the newspapers, sending mailers, etc. Promotion is something the organizers have not done properly. Otherwise the Show is decent. I have been in the advisory committee and have been laying stress on more advertising rather than a fashion show or anything else. They have been advertising through television but that does not help. Most effective are newspaper ads and hoardings.”$$Most of the traders from and around Andhra Pradesh found the Show a good beginning and a stepping stone to move further. Most of them are looking forward to such shows. Exhibitors from Mumbai too were positive. Said Imagem: “The Show is good and we got very good response.” Some of the exhibitors from Jaipur, who did less than Rs. 10,000 business and were expecting much better orders, were disappointed but nevertheless felt that this market has tremendous potential.