Jewellery & Gem World (JGW) is the latest show to join the event exodus, albeit temporarily, from Hong Kong to Singapore. Asia’s B2B sourcing trade fair will now take place in Singapore Expo in September (27-30).

JGW Singapore organiser, Informa Markets, says the show will continue to showcase the best that the jewellery world has to offer: “Celebrating the same spirit and sense of community that the show has been known for in its Hong Kong home base, the relocated fair is all set to live up to its unique positioning as the phenomenal resource for professional buyers searching for what’s new, what’s next and the unexpected – right now.”

The move to Singapore makes the show more accessible to international suppliers and buyers given Hong Kong’s continued inaccessibility due to Covid situation and self-isolation requirements.

Informa stresses the venue change is a one-off special arrangement for 2022.

“The last two years have been extremely challenging for everybody, and we, as an industry, have been doing our utmost to not only keep businesses running, but moving forward,” said David Bondi, senior vice-president of Informa Markets in Asia. “Industry stakeholders overwhelmingly told us they wanted safe and secure physical fairs that they could participate in, and Informa Markets delivered by successfully hosting enhanced large-scale in-person events in the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia in the last several months, with many more firmly scheduled for 2022 and beyond.”

Bondi noted Informa had launched Jewellery, Gem & Technology Dubai (JGT Dubai), the jewellery industry’s first international in-person B2B fair of the year, with the inaugural edition drawing buyers from 100 countries and regions.

Bondi added that the physical shows served as bellwethers for the sector. “We are confident JGW Singapore will accomplish just that – spark authentic business connections and help drive our industry recovery,” he said.

Singapore is steadily easing travel restrictions and “has the capacity to securely and efficiently host the world’s most iconic jewellery show,” said Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets Jewellery.

“We are confident that global buyers in decision-making roles will make the trip to the city-state to join us on the show floor,” Lau added. “Our community can rest assured that Hong Kong will be ready to deliver the full JGW experience in 2023 when conditions allow for safe and responsible in-person interactions, and international travel restrictions are lifted.”

In addition to JGW Singapore and some special-edition Hong Kong fairs, Informa Markets Jewellery will launch Jewellery & Gem ASEAN Bangkok (JGAB) 2-5 November. It will be a B2B cash-and-carry event especially focused on Southeast Asia-based buyers who need to restock instantly for the vital Christmas and New Year selling season.

Informa Markets Jewellery’s 2022 agenda also includes 10 physical events in eight cities and five theme-based digital experiences.