When customers described their preferred jewelry designs, goldsmiths or artists often showed an inability to produce or supply them due to a lack of advanced machinery in Bangladesh. Similarly, they could not move forward with new ideas for the same reason.
Those days will be over as various advanced machines are showcased at the International Jewelry Machinery Expo 2024 in the capital, encouraging goldsmiths and artisans to create new gold jewelry and meet customer demands.
Business owners and entrepreneurs attending the exhibition echo this hope sentiment.
Bangladesh Jeweller's Association (BAJUS) in association with Indian partner KNC Services organised the three-day expo at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) with the theme "Technology for excellence in jewellery".
Thirty companies from 10 countries, including India, Italy, Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, China and Thailand, are participating in the first edition of the expo.
Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan inaugurated the expo. Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Mahbubul Alam was the chief guest at the opening ceremony on Thursday.
Abdullah Al Mamun, who came to the exhibition from Old Dhaka, owns Mukta Jewelry in Tantibazar, Old Dhaka. He was seen visiting different stalls showcasing various jewelry machinery.
Abdullah Al Mamun told Banglanews, "Modern machines are needed to create high-quality jewelry, but they are not easily available in our country. We have to procure them from abroad. Getting visas quickly, finding time, and acquiring dollars is challenging. Even if machines are brought from abroad, we have to wait for foreign experts for service and installation. In this situation, this exhibition has come as a blessing for entrepreneurs in this sector."
This jewelry entrepreneur added, "This is the first time such an exhibition is happening in the country. I have been to India and China before. Now, I am finding everything at this fair in our own country. Many like me have come to the fair, so they won't need to go abroad anymore. I hope more companies from more countries will participate in the future, making it even more beneficial."
Ashish Saha, who owns a jewelry business in Narsingdi, said, "Attending the fair has sparked new ideas for jewelry making. Often, despite having the demand, we couldn't move forward due to the lack of advanced machines. This fair has given us the courage."
He added, "Through BAJUS, we learned about the fair. We also found out which companies from which countries brought what machines and services to the fair."
Visitors mentioned that owners or proprietors of jewelry-making companies interested in buying machines are visiting the stalls. Foreign companies participating in the fair are also getting to know the local entrepreneurs. Both parties believe that this exhibition will elevate the modernization of the jewelry industry and create a bridge among entrepreneurs.
Srikanta Chandra Saha, Senior System Engineer at Dream Instrument Technology, told Banglanews, "Our representatives usually visit various jewelry companies with machine logos. The fair gives us the opportunity to come together under one roof and interact with many companies. Many are placing orders."
Yasha Vardhan, Head of Marketing at Mumbai-based Doit Industries International, said, "It is encouraging to see entrepreneurs and artists both visiting the fair, looking around, gathering information, and placing orders for machines. This fair is facilitating connections with Bangladeshi jewelry manufacturers."
Kranti Nagvekar, founder and CEO of KNC Services, said, "We have organized the International Jewelry Machinery Exhibition for the first time. Bangladeshi artisans are renowned for their craftsmanship. If these artisans have access to machines, the jewelry industry in Bangladesh will conquer the world."
He added, "We are very pleased to see the enthusiasm of entrepreneurs and artisans. Next year, more diverse machines will be showcased at our fair. The jewelry industry in Bangladesh has immense potential and will significantly contribute to the economy through jewelry exports in the future."
The foreign exhibitors appreciated the Bangladeshi jewellery entrepreneurs' knowledge of the industry, which enabled them to meet the people's demands. They also praised BAJUS's endeavour to provide a space to meet Bangladeshi jewellers through this business-to-business (B2B) exhibition.
Italian company Fasti Industrials is participating in the expo with machines used for manufacturing gold chains.
Marco Conti of Fasti Industrials said the exhibition is helping the company to learn about the Bangladeshi jewellers' community.
"Bangladeshi jewellers are showing their interest in our highly equipped machinery. For the first time, the response is satisfactory. We hope the networking will help us to grow together in future," Marco Conti added.
Fasti grows, producing more precise and reliable machines continuously. Its FZAL and FZVA machines were launched in 2022. These are the only ones in the market which are used in the production of alternating cable and Venetian chains.
Albert Chylabaev, an official of Turkiye company GUVENIS, was seen busy sharing information about their latest technology with visitors.
Among the foreign companies, Tishya CNC Engineering Works, Neo Instruments, Solanki Mechanic Works, Ira Corporation, Quantum Equipment, ACZET Solutions, Anant Jewels & Technology, Micromac Industries, and Pacio Traders registered from India.
Two companies from Italy - JTE and Fasti - took part in the showcasing, while OTEC and GUVENIS from Turkiye, Thailand company BSIC and Chinese company DO IT Industries are representing their respective countries.
The expo will end today (June 6).
BDST: 1414 HRS, JULY 06, 2024
SMS
