Asia's largest jewelry show

Asia's largest jewelry show

HONG KONG (AFP): Hong Kong will stage Asia's largest jewelry fair next week, with new exhibitors from Indonesia, Lebanon, Israel, Lithuania, Russia, Mexico and Vietnam, participating, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) said yesterday.

HKTDC assistant executive director of exhibition Owen Chi said the number of exhibitors was almost 40 percent up on last year. The biggest delegation to the annual fair will come from the United States, followed by Taiwan and Italy.

More than 14,000 buyers from around the world were expected at the four-day event, HKTDC said.

Last year, Hong Kong exported HK$6 billion (US$776 million) worth of precious jewelry, making it the world's fourth largest exporter, after Italy, Switzerland and the Britain.

Last year, the fair netted a total of HK$399 million in business orders, an increase of 33 percent over the previous event.