The International Jewelry & Watch Show (JWS) being held in the UAE capital under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, opened on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, with exhibitors reporting encouraging response. The show was inaugurated by Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade. Over 100 exhibitors from 15 countries are participating in the newly branded event which features some of the finest jewelry and watch collections from around the world. Brazil, India, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Lebanon and Thailand are hosting pavilions at the show which is organized by Reed Exhibitions Middle East. Addressing the media at the opening Sheikha Lubna said: “Jewelry sales in the Gulf region are increasing every year. The UAE's jewelry industry has grown by leaps and bounds and leading jewelry and watch brands have a presence here. The UAE also has representation across the value-chain of the jewelry trade including design, manufacturing, re-exports as well as retail sales”. In a statement released earlier, Sheikha Lubna said: “Events such as JWS bring about huge benefits including boosting trade, attracting investments and supporting the overall economy, while raising the profile of the country as a tourism and business destination.” Speaking on the opening day of JWS, Salem Al Shueibi, chairman of Salem Al Shueibi jewelers, said the company's stand at the show has doubled in size to 650 square meters from the last edition. “We are very positive about the potential in the market despite global conditions which are affecting other markets. The jewelry trade here has progressed rapidly and is now a reference point for all countries with the UAE having a number of outlets that compete on quality”. Bilal Mustafa AlKhaled, deputy general manager of Mohammed Rasoul Khoory & Sons LLC, said: “Competition has energized the jewellery market and unlike the early days when products made in Italy were regarded as the very best, jewelry manufacture of the highest quality is now a global phenomenon with the UAE being a top player in this domain.” Clarissa Maciel, a spokesperson for the Brazilian pavilion at JWS, said that she was confident that exhibitors would achieve significant benefits from their participation at the show. Manish Dhamani, director - Retail at Dhamani, a UAE-based exhibitor, said “the company's stand at the show attracted a number of high quality clients including 3 VVIP clients, one of whom purchased jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of dirhams.” __
