South India’s largest B2B jewellery exhibition, the Hyderabad International Jewellery Show (HIJS) 2023, which was held at Hitex Centre from May 19-21, 2023 was rated as an overwhelming success by the exhibitors, visitors and organisers alike. The show concluded on a high note with the booths remaining crowded till closing time on the last day.

V K Manoj, Project-Director, United Exhibitions, the organiser of HIJS 2023, said, “The massive response to the first HIJS exceeded expectations of all participants and the exhibitors were all very satisfied. They were especially pleased by the strict implementation of the norms restricting entry to business visitors only. We also received positive feedback about the quality of facilities provided. We have been greatly encouraged by the success of HIJS and the support from the industry across the region.” 

Broad-based Support 

Chief Guest Hon’ble Minister of Tourism & Culture, Telangana, Shri Srinivas Goud Garu showered praise on the HIJS and expressed his government’s wholehearted support to the jewellery industry, while speaking at the event. He said, “The industry should come up with a plan to develop a huge permanent jewellery trading market and also other infrastructure to boost manufacturing and approach the government for its requirements. We will be happy to work out solutions.”

The show was also supported by all the major gem and jewellery trade bodies from across South India. The vigorous campaign to promote HIJS through road shows and door-to-door drives in all the key jewellery industry centres had a huge impact and created major awareness due to the backing from local trade bodies in each area.

Leading personalities of all major associations from every state in the southern region were also personally present on the opening day of the show.

Significant Pan-India Participation

HIJS was a successful platform that brought together leading manufacturers from across the country with large, medium and small jewellery retailers both from the South as well as from many other key jewellery centres in other regions too. The cross section of visitors from so many different states led a few participants to say it was almost on par with other pan India shows.

The show had 250 exhibitors in 600 booths spread over 1,50,000 sq ft of exhibition space. An estimated 20,00,000 jewellery designs were showcased covering a wide array of choices across gold, diamond, and silver jewellery, as well as loose gemstones. Equipment used in the manufacturing process and the latest technology and software solutions used in the jewellery industry was also being displayed and demonstrated in the halls.

High Footfalls, Brisk Business 

Many of the exhibitors expressed satisfaction over the steady flow of visitors on all three days. A few even commented on the significantly high number of footfalls even on the evening of the last day saying that it was on par with what is normally seen on Day One of any show.

On all the days, large groups of buyers were seen from various districts of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and South India. In addition, there were a significant number of trade visitors from across various parts of India as well. 

Jitender Kumar Gupta, Proprietor- Inderlal Balmukand Gems & Jewels, Hyderabad said, “This show is very well organised and has very good quality buyers. Every visitor is a genuine and good quality buyer, and as the timing of the show is perfect those jewellers who have a requirement for new stocks have come here to the show.”

Similarly, Ankit Vaidya – Director of Jewel Partner, an exhibitor from Indore in MP remarked, “The show has been very good and much better than other similar shows held earlier in the city in terms of buyers. “Clearly there are no window shoppers, and only the serious buyers who have come to make stock purchases have come in. This is a show about quality and not quantity.”

Concurrent Events

The importance of the show as a business networking event was further seen in the variety of key concurrent events that were hosted by HIJS. 

Some of the key highlights of included:

I. Panel Discussion with Heads of Industry Associations

Immediately after the inaugural session, a distinguished panel comprising 15 office bearers of gem & jewellery industry bodies from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala discussed their views on ‘Role of Associations in the Growth of the Jewellery Sector’. The discussion was moderated by Shri Sumesh Wadhera of Art of Jewellery.

II. Kohinoor Jewellery Awards

At a special event, Kohinoor Jewellery Awards, held on the evening of May 19, presented by SVAR, leading stalwarts and iconic brands from the Gems & Jewellery industry were felicitated for their outstanding contributions to the growth and development of the industry. Chief Guest Hon’ble Minister of Tourism & Culture, Shri Srinivas Goud Garu and other dignitaries did the honours at the event.

III. GJC Regional Conference

The All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) conducted its Regional Conference at HIJS 2023 on May 20. The conference, was attended by about 500 delegates from across the region and steered by Saiyam Mehra, GJC Chairman, S Abdul Nazar, Convener All-India Conference, GJC Past Chairman Nitin Khandelwal and others. An important interaction took place during the session addressed by CA Bhavin Mehta who spoke about Hallmarking, GST, HUID and PMLA among other related themes.

United Exhibitions said that almost all the exhibitors have confirmed their participation in HIJS 2024, the exact dates of which will be finalised soon.