Courtesy of the Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair

The 54th edition of the Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair, taking place Sept. 9–13, will be duty-free for the first time. 

Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion is waiving the 20 percent import tax on gems and jewelry sold at the fair, including those from foreign exhibitors. The grace period runs 15 days before and after the fair.

“We are privileged to have the government working alongside us so directly,” said Somchai Phornchindarak, president of the Thai Gem and Jewellery Traders Association (TGJTA) and chairman of the Gems, Jewelry and Precious Metal Confederation of Thailand. “The government has been with us every step of the way, helping to promote exports as well as developing overseas markets via trade fairs, road shows, and exceptional exhibitions. All these changes predict a gleaming future for all.” 

The biannual fair, organized by the TGJTA, will have more than 1,500 exhibitors and is expected to draw tens of thousands of buyers; the most recent fair, in February, had more than 30,000 visitors. It is the second-largest trade show in Asia and the fifth-largest in the world, according to organizers.

More information is available at bangkokgemsfair.com.

JCK