On March 15, 2016, Ms. Chandima Kiriwandala, First Secretary (Trade), of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Moscow, attended the Jewellery Industry Conference organised by the Guild of Jewellers of Russia and the National Gemmological Association.
The conference was chaired by Mr. Gagik G. Gevorkyan, Chairman of Board, Guild of Jewellers of Russia, as well as by the President of ALROSA, Russia’s largest diamond corporation, the Head of Gokhran ( State Repository of precious stonesand metals), the Head of the Federal Assays Chamber of Russia, the Director of the Moscow State University Gemmological Centre, and other high-ranking decision-makers and entrepreneurs of the Russian jewellery market, representatives of gems and precious metals testing laboratories, as well as major jewellery companies and associations outside of Moscow: Smolensk Diamonds Jewellery Group, the Guild of Jewellers of the Urals, and media and SMM promotion companies.
On behalf of the National Gem & Jewellery Authority of Sri Lanka, the Embassy introduced the jewellery industry of Sri Lanka highlighting the presence of a rich variety of natural gems, including high-quality sapphires, and vast opportunities represented by the upcoming FACETS International Jewellery Show to be held in Colombo, September 1-4, 2016. The subsequent presentation made on NGJA behalf, highlighted the NGJA plan to participate in Russia’s largest G&J show, JUNWEX, held in Moscow on Sep. 28-Oct. 2, 2016. The Embassy presentation also touched on the facilitation made by Sri Lanka in terms of custom duties exemption for foreign clients purchasing gems at FACETS, as well as notable custom and tax facilitation measures for gems exported by Sri Lanka and reduction of duties for foreign gems and jewellery import. These facilitation measures were further highlighted by Mr. Edward Utkin, Director General, Guild of Jewellers of Russia, as particularly attractive for Russian counterparts; the Guild members also spoke about the need for Sri Lankan jewellers to focus on further marketing efforts and media promotion to outreach to Russia’s jewellery market.
