Sri Lanka gem show lures Chinese, Russians

Sept 03, 2010 (LBO) - An international gem and jewellery exhibition in Sri Lanka has drawn large groups of buyers from China and Russia which are emerging as important markets, officials said.









"The stones have become more attractive and better cut." Chanaka Ellawala, head of the 20th Facets gem and jewellery show organising committee, said foreign participation had been increasing over the years, making it an international exhibition.









There were also delegations from Azerbaijan, India, Tanzania, Myanmar, Thailand and Hong Kong.

"Our gems and jewellery are steadily building great linkages with China, and particularly with Yunnan province," he said at the show's opening ceremony.

Gem and jewellery exports from the island have been increasing over the years and are a key source of foreign exchange earnings.

Macky Hashim, chairman of Sri Lanka's Gem and Jewellery Association, said there were nearly 200 people from Yunnan province at this year's show.

Governor of China's Yunnan province Qin Guangrong who led the Chinese team to the show said Yunnan was the hub of jewellery for China and south east Asia with some 600,000 people employed in the sector.

The jewellery and