CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Meycauayan Jewelry Industry Association (MJIA), in partnership with Department of Trade and Industry-Central Luzon (DTI), was named as country’s delegate for the upcoming 37th Hong Kong International Jewelry Show to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Wanchai on March 4 to 8.
MJIA officials Peter Zuñiga and Cecilia Ramos assured DTI of the group’s participation in the four-day international jewelry fair, DTI Central Luzon information officer Warren Serrano reported.
The jewelry show is among the three exhibitions conducted annually by the Hong Kong Exhibition Center for the fine jewelry sector every March, June and September.
Hong Kong is now recognized as one of the world’s most successful exhibition centers in the world, carrying an important link between the East and the West.
It reportedly has the most exciting, best-impact, and well-attended trade fairs in the Asia Pacific Region and is well participated by buyers across the globe.
Prior to the show, MJIA will be receiving a P350,000 subsidy from the DTI while the co-operator pledged the same amount as counterpart.
In 2018, MJIA bagged P1,460,700 in total sales from three participating micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) namely Ricel’s Jewelry, Jevan Jewelty and Kit Silver Jewelry, Serrano said.
He disclosed that three MSMEs consolidated the products of different MSMEs in Meycauayan, Metro Manila and other provinces.
Meanwhile, DTI noted that jewelry industry sector in the Philippines remains a silent participant in the bustling business activity of the country and was content in serving the domestic market.
But over the years, it started to create an emerging mark in the world market, although it started as an indigenous and labor-intensive industry.
While the market abroad for fine jewelry has expanded, the Philippines’ fine jewelry hopes to capitalize on the strength of the industry to fully maximize on its opportunities.
Through the DTI Shared Service Facility (SSF) for jewelry making – composed of vacuum over pressure casting machine and a Matrix 8 design software, the local jewelry industry started to regain its edge in design and quality by maximizing the natural talent of Filipino designers and jewelry makers.
Filipinos are noted in the international market for their craftsmanship. This was proven with the increased recognition and acceptance of Philippine made products like furniture and gifts, toys and housewares, which continues to bring into the country the much needed foreign exchange earnings.
One of the strategies of MJIA to penetrate the world market is through its participation in various international trade fairs and exhibits like the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show.
This is in line with DTI “One Town, One Product” initiative which aims to compete with the standards of foreign countries with competitive jewelry industry like Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and even Sri Lanka.