ALL THAT GLITTERS ...

I spent a few hours at the 44th Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair this afternoon, chatting to buyers and dealers about their experiences in the last 12 months.
Surprisingly it seems most of the Bangkok-based retailers have escaped largely unscathed from the fallout from the global economic crisis. Several gemstone and gold jewelry retailers I spoke to have even seen an increase in their business.
The sheer number of exhibitors at the twice-a-year show is also an indication of Thailand's place in this industry. While researching an exclusive interview with the CEO of the Gemological Institute of America (which appears in the September edition of BusinessWeek Thailand) I discovered the sector accounts for something like 4 per cent of the Kingdom's GDP - or roughly half that generated from tourism. It seems this sector will be one that's likely to emerge strongly as the economy picks up.
The fair runs until Saturday (10am until 6pm, 5pm on Saturday). Take your passport and business cards as security is naturally pretty tight.