India’s apex body for Gems & Jewellery, The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) announced the 29th Edition of India International Jewellery Show today at Bombay Exhibition centre, Goregaon - the paramount show in trade in Asia. The show is being hosted from 23rd-27th August at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai and will have participation of over 800 companies from India and Overseas. Honourable Shri Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce & Industry along with Rajiv Jain, Chairman, GJEPC and Sanjay Kothari, Vice Chairman, GJEPC inaugurated the show through a lamp lighting ceremony followed by a guided tour of the show area.%% The weeklong show has a congregation of delegations from trade associations across India and from a host of international destinations like Bangladesh, China, Dubai, Hungary, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and more.%% This year’s participation includes pavilions from Thailand, Belgium, Israel, Turkey and UAE and 15 International Contingents. IIJS 2012 has already received 30,000 pre-registrations from national visitors and over 3,000 from International visitors and has seen 50 new companies participating this year.%% Asia’s premier jewellery show has on display the widest range of gems and jewels under the categories of Couture, Loose Diamond (Domestic), Plain Gold Jewellery, Mass Produced, Allied, Machinery and International (Jewellery and Loose Diamond). The show, like all its previous editions, promises to be the key driver for greater trade and business in the segment. %% At the inauguration of the India International Jewellery Show, Rajiv Jain, Chairman, GJEPC, said, “The 29th edition of IIJS promises to be bigger than the previous, with a stronger presence of International contingents and representation from all over the globe. This year apart from promoting trade at a global level, we are especially proud to share that the Council has attempted to contribute to the welfare of the artisans practicing the art forms of Bidri, Bamboo, Filigree and Patwa and give a leash of life to these dying art forms by hosting an exhibition of these forgotten forms of jewellery making and attempting to provide a means of livelihood for these artisans by forming the Gem and Jewellery Skill Council of India. This council will attempt to help these skilled workers to get a steady source of income through opportunities created by the council. ” %%