Executives and main buyers representing some of North America’s top jewelry retailers on Sunday received a preview of an upcoming business development conference in Mumbai, during The JCK Show ~ Las Vegas.

The first “Indo-US Jewelry Business Development Conference” will be held Oct. 1-5 at Mumbai’s Marriot Renaissance. It will include panel discussions and seminars on the various ways that American companies can open or increase their business with India, private meetings with officials representing top India manufacturers, tours of manufacturing plants, and sightseeing tours.

The event is being hosted by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council of India, the promotional arm of the India gem and jewelry manufacturers and exporters, in collaboration with R&B Partners, LLP, a branding, marketing, and special events consulting firm based in Stamford, Conn.

At meeting held Sunday, presenters talked about the upcoming conference as a way to better understand each other needs.

“It’s an opportunity to get the vendor and merchant sitting at both sides of the table,” said Rick Bannerot, R&P principal. “No lawyers allowed. Let’s just get the principals in let them talk.”

Bakul Mehta of GJEPC said the conference was two years in the making. “This is a whole new way for understanding your needs and understanding what India is capable of doing,” he said. “India provides a great opportunity. We don’t promote jewelry enough as a desirable product. We promote diamonds as a desirable product. We need to create a demand for jewelry. … “India is a one-stop shop for mass-produced and couture-quality jewelry.”

JCK