PENANG Aug 27 - A state executive councillor suggested Friday that jewellery fairs and exhibitions be organised on a regional or international basis to contribute to the flourishing tourism sector and reinforce Penang as a shopping haven for fine jewellery. State Tourism Development and Environment Committee chairman Teng Chang Yeow said such fairs would also help to nurture the image of Penang as a major meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) hub not only in the northern region but also within the context of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT). "Event organisers must bring in more major market players in this industry, go beyond the local scene and think outside the box in organising this kind of exhibition," he told reporters after opening the "Malaysia Northern Region Jewellery Fair 2004" at Evergreen Laurel Hotel here. He hoped that the organisers would turn the event into an annual affair so that it could be featured as one of the attractions in the state's tourism calendar. Meanwhile, HareNet Communications Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Admen Kok said the jewellery market in the northern region, particularly Penang, had great potential to thrive. However, this had been ignored by many major market players in the industry and the fair would provide a greater opportunity of interactions between buyers and sellers and stimulate a more active expansion of the market, he said. He said the three-day fair organised by the company attracted 30 exhibitors from countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Thailand, and India and local jewellers to showcase their latest designs and products. It
will feature exquisite jewellery pieces from different parts of the world including
gemstones from Thailand, India and Myanmar, quality pearls such as the famous
Akoya pearls, South Sea pearls, fresh water pearls from Japan and as diamonds
and jadeite from China.
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