56th Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair set Sept 10-14

BANGKOK, September 10 (TNA) - International visitors are now welcome to the 56th Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair, held at the IMPACT Trade and Exhibition Centre in Muang Thong Thani on the outskirts of Bangkok from September 10-14. While opening the 56th Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair on Thursday, Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha pledged that his government will give support to gems and ornaments displayed and sold at the fair by exempting import tariffs and value-added tax of 7 per cent. The prime minister pointed out that gems and jewelry and ornaments are significant Thai exports and have grown steadily, ranked third among key Thai exports last year, earning the Kingdom about 340 billion baht. Regarding to the approaching ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which is due to be established by the end of this year, the prime minister noted that ASEAN is a large market with combined consumers of over 600 million; so, AEC should easily make Thailand become a regional hub of gemstones and ornaments on the condition that manufacturers continually develop their products to be in line with market trends and to maintain quality of Thailand’s jewelry and ornaments on a sustainable basis. According to the prime minister, he has also ordered concerned ministers to speed up working over the next three months and the Ministry of Commerce to do everything possible in order to create benefits for Thailand. (TNA)