MALAYSIAN JEWELLERS CLINCH RM5 MLN SALES, POTENTIAL ORDERS

By Tham Choy Lin

HONG KONG, March 14 (Bernama) - Malaysian jewellers clinched RM1.35 million
of orders from Asia's biggest jewellery show held here last week and are
following up on potential sales of nearly RM4 million (US$1=RM3.66).

The outcome was pleasing for the dozen Malaysian companies that had taken
part in the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show from March 5 to 8.

"The feedback has been good. One of the Malaysian companies taking part for
the third time received a 30 percent to 50 per cent increase in sales," the
Trade Commissioner in Hong Kong for Malaysia External Trade Development
Corporation, Edison Choong told Bernama.

"I was told that more quality buyers came this time and they were very
targeted on what they wanted. There is also a trend of buyers trading down to
source for less precious items," he added.

He said the Malaysian exhibitors, who took up 20 booths, had brought various
kinds of creative and innovative designs for diamond rings, steel and silver
jewellery, pearl and other accessories.

The fair drew a 30,000 crowd with 11 per cent increase in local buyers.

Overseas attendance dropped by 15 per cent but bigger numbers came from
emerging markets like Argentina, Chile, mainland China, Poland, Saudi Arabia,
Tanzania, Tunisia and Vietnam.

-- BERNAMA