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The country's export of the fine jewelry by 71 percent over last year's total value, Maria Luisa Diokno Unson, President of the Guild of Philippine Jewelers (GPJ), said yesterday. Continue below.

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Unson said the GPJ, the country's largest organization of fine jewelry makers, is mounting a targeted campaign increase orders of foreign buyers in the ornament categories of gold, silver, pearl.

Confident of its medium to high-value wares, GPJ is also out to get the most support it can from the local market.

On Oct. 18 to 21, the GPJ mounts an exhibit at the Manila F.A.M.E. International, Asia Pacific's second longest running bi-annual trade show, at reception Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center.

Unson said 13-member-companies presenting at the Manila F.A.M.E. are Alcon Jewelry Inc., Dam Good Stuff, Inc., DJ Distinction House of Jewels, Goldenas Jeweler Inc., Jeweler, Lanero Jewelry, Marcelles, Moisanite, New Life Jewelry, Oro Y Plata, Sterling Gifts Inc. and Yamang Katutubo.

The guild's presence at the Manila F.A.M.E. also provides strategic head start for its selling show, which is set on Nov. 18 to 20, 2005 at the Power Plant Mall. International buyers have been invited to this show where 18 GPJ members participate.

In both shows, clients well set eyes on GPJ members' craftsmanship in the execution of jewelry designs for time-held favorite and for sets that denote wearer's preferences for the new, the ethnic exotic, the avant-garde, says Unson.

Unson said GPJ is also visible in international shows. This year several GPJ members came from successful participation in the Influential Vicenza Oro 1 and 2 and the OroGemma in Vicenza, Italy as well as the well-attended Hong Kong Jewelry and Watch Fair at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

Funds for their overseas exposure, training and the other forms of assistance have been partly provided by support agencies, among them Canada's CIDA Pearl 2, the confederation of Philippine Exporters and DTI's Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, recounts Unson.

"As a whole, we continue to grapple with many concerns affecting the industry, ranging from the slow implementation of the Jewelry Development Act to changing modes of business transactions on the part of foreign buyers and suppliers," she narrated.

"But with concerted effort, the guild is optimistic these are all surmountable, enabling us to take up the wide spectrum of opportunities awaiting us," she says.

October 17, 2005

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