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JNA Awards 2016 now accepting entries

2016-03-04 13:21 5299

HONG KONG, March 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The fifth edition of the JNA Awards is inviting qualified companies and individuals from the jewellery and gemstone industry to enter the prestigious international award.

(From left) Nishit Parikh, Director of Diarough Group; Rita Maltez, Director of Rio Tinto Diamonds for Greater China; Wolfram Diener, Senior Vice President of UBM Asia; Peter Suen, Executive Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd; Noa Pardo, Managing Director of Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies Asia Pacific; Letitia Chow, Founder of JNA and Director of Business Development – Jewellery Group at UBM Asia; and Liu Zheng, Deputy General Manager of Guangdong Land Holdings Ltd.
(From left) Nishit Parikh, Director of Diarough Group; Rita Maltez, Director of Rio Tinto Diamonds for Greater China; Wolfram Diener, Senior Vice President of UBM Asia; Peter Suen, Executive Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd; Noa Pardo, Managing Director of Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies Asia Pacific; Letitia Chow, Founder of JNA and Director of Business Development – Jewellery Group at UBM Asia; and Liu Zheng, Deputy General Manager of Guangdong Land Holdings Ltd.

The annual JNA Awards, organised by JNA, recognises innovators and leaders who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the trade in Asia, and have demonstrated excellence and outstanding entrepreneurial achievements.

There is no cost to enter the JNA Awards and entrants can be self-nominated or nominated by others.

This year, the Awards will cover 11 categories:

  1. Lifetime Achievement Award (nominated by the organiser)
  2. Brand of the Year - Retail    
  3. Industry Innovation/Sustainability Initiative of the Year 
  4. Manufacturer of the Year - Cutting & Polishing
  5. Manufacturer of the Year - Jewellery  
  6. Outstanding Enterprise of the Year - ASEAN/Korea 
  7. Outstanding Enterprise of the Year - India   
  8. Outstanding Enterprise of the Year - Greater China     
  9. Retailer of the Year (450 outlets and below) 
  10. E-tailer of the Year   
  11. Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Age 40 and below)

The JNA Awards 2016 is supported by Headline Partners, Rio Tinto Diamonds and Chow Tai Fook, together with Diarough Group, the Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies, Shanghai Diamond Exchange, and Guangdong Land Holdings Limited serving as Honoured Partners.

Wolfram Diener, Senior Vice President of UBM Asia, said, "This year marks the fifth year of the JNA Awards, and as the organiser of the event, we are very proud of the impact and recognition the Awards has achieved thus far.

"As part of our company mission, UBM Asia is always seeking ways to better serve the trade. For our jewellery portfolio, the JNA Awards creates a strong synergy with our various fairs and trade publications to offer the jewellery and gemstone industry a comprehensive platform to conduct business in a more effective manner. In addition, the JNA Awards offers a unique opportunity where thought leaders, pioneers and successful entrepreneurs gather in one occasion to discuss breakthroughs to advance the trade and exchange views on how the industry can be transformed in a positive way."

Letitia Chow, Founder of JNA, Director of Business Development -- Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, and Chair of the JNA Awards judging panel, said, "We are very privileged to be able to work closely with our Partners and experts from the industry each year to identify ways to make the JNA Awards a more meaningful event for the trade. As we enter the Awards' fifth year, we have reviewed the judging criteria and revised the entry format to make it easier for entrants to share their achievements and highlight their success stories. We have also consolidated some categories that are judged against a similar set of criteria to create a more dynamic environment and a new level of competition. Moreover, some of the categories have been expanded to invite more entrants from regions that are key to the jewellery and gemstone industry."

Rita Maltez, Director of Rio Tinto Diamonds for Greater China, said, "The JNA Awards is an important part of Rio Tinto's ongoing investment in the diamond industry, and we are delighted to continue as a headline sponsor in the fifth year of the Awards. The strong foundation we have created over the past five years is more important than ever in supporting growth in our industry, and we look forward to seeing a strong group of entries to showcase the best of our business."

"The annual JNA Awards is a platform not only for recognising distinguished performances and encouraging innovation and progress, but also for exchanging ideas and connecting with the industry's elite from different parts of the world. The JNA Awards' contribution is highly regarded for promoting best business practices and fostering a sustainable operating environment for the industry. In recent years, the jewellery sector has faced many challenges. The industry should strive to keep pace with market changes through continuous innovation and improvement in an ever-evolving environment. The JNA Awards has demonstrated its positive and indomitable spirit in the pursuit of excellence and best business practices. Chow Tai Fook hopes that the JNA Awards will continue to thrive and shine in its effort to further drive the prosperous development of the jewellery industry," said Kent Wong, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group.

Interested parties can access the entry forms now on the JNA Award's official website. Deadline for submissions will be midnight (Hong Kong time) of 30 April 2016.

The judging process will be undertaken by a highly respected international panel starting from May to mid-June. The Honourees or shortlisted entrants will be announced on 23 June at the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, and will be feted together with the Recipients or winners on 14 September at the JNA Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair.

For more information, visit www.JNAawards.com or contact:
JNA Awards Marketing
UBM Asia (Hong Kong)
+852 2516-2184
marketing@JNAawards.com

Notes for Editors:

1.About JNA (www.jewellerynewsasia.com)

JNA is the organiser of the JNA Awards and is the flagship publication of UBM Asia's Jewellery Group. First published in 1983, the title is the leader in providing up-to-date international jewellery trade news with an Asian insight. It features original, in-depth reports by experienced journalists covering the latest developments in the diamond, pearl, coloured gemstone, jewellery manufacturing, and equipment and supplies sectors.

2. About the Headline Partners

2.1 Rio Tinto Diamonds (www.riotinto.com/diamondsandminerals)

Rio Tinto Diamonds is one of the world's major producers of rough diamonds and operates a fully integrated diamond exploration, mining and marketing business.

For over three decades, the company has been an important participant in the international diamond market with two world class underground diamond mines in Australia (Argyle) and Canada (Diavik) and an advanced diamond project in India (Bunder).

Rio Tinto Diamonds' production is sorted and prepared for sale at its sales and marketing office in Antwerp, Belgium, supported by a network of representative offices in Hong Kong, Mumbai and New York. It also operates a niche cutting and polishing factory in Perth, Australia for the rare pink diamonds from its Argyle mine. Rio Tinto Diamonds is a leading supporter of the Kimberley Process, as well as a founding member of the Responsible Jewellery Council and the Diamond Producers Association.

2.2 Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (www.chowtaifook.com)

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited ( Stock Code: 1929 ) is a world-class leading jeweller listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2011. Being the largest jeweller listed in Hong Kong by market capitalisation, which is also one of the world's top few, the Group also excels as the number one for sales in the world. 

The iconic brand "Chow Tai Fook" of the Group has been widely recognised for its trustworthiness and authenticity, and renowned for product design, quality and value. The acquisition of Hearts On Fire, an internationally acclaimed U.S. luxury diamond brand, in August 2014 has further underpinned the Group's stature as a diamond expert in the industry.

The Group boasts an extensive retail network comprising over 2,340 Chow Tai Fook and Hearts On Fire stores spanning more than 500 cities in Greater China, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and the United States, as well as a strong and fast growing e-tail network through operating its Chow Tai Fook e-Shops and various e-tail accounts on other online shopping platforms.

The Group's sophisticated vertically integrated business model provides it with an effective and tight control over the entire operation chain from raw material procurement, design, production, to marketing and sales through its extensive POS and e-tail channels.

3.  About the Honoured Partners

3.1 Diarough Group (www.diarough.com)

Diarough Group was established in Antwerp in 1975 and owns diamond polishing factories in China, India, Thailand and Botswana, with a network of sales offices around the world. Diarough is known among the most professional and respected names in the international diamond industry.

Diarough believes in building and nurturing long-term business relationships based on mutual trust, finding solutions to business and marketing problems, creating marketable opportunities through innovative products and providing excellent client services.

Its jewellery manufacturing unit Uni-Design has produced many award-winning jewellery pieces, which have been proudly worn by celebrities on the red carpet over the years.

The Group employs over 3,500 people and is engaged in a wide range of diamond business activities like rough trading, cutting, polishing, jewellery manufacturing and marketing to retailers, chain stores, global brands and private labels worldwide. Diarough employs advanced technology and modern work speed with traditional ethical business practices upon which the Company was founded.

3.2 Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (www.israelidiamond.co.il)

The Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI) is a non-profit, public interest company representing all institutions involved in the Israeli Diamond Industry. Israel is one of the world's leading diamond centres and IDI works to enhance Israel's position as a major trading and manufacturing hub.

IDI works to benefit Israel's diamond industry in a variety of areas including:  marketing and PR, technological innovation, encouraging local manufacturing, training, and security consulting. IDI seeks out new markets for Israeli diamonds and develops existing ones.  As part of this effort, IDI organises industry participation in major trade fairs around the world, establishing Israeli Diamond Pavilions and sponsoring events at these shows.

IDI operates a representative office in Hong Kong, which fosters trade relations with Asian markets.

3.3 Shanghai Diamond Exchange (www.cnsde.com)

Authorised by the State Council, the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE) is the only diamond exchange in China and provides diamond dealers a fair and safe transaction venue under close supervision. It also enjoys a favourable taxation policy and is operated in accordance with international best practices of the diamond industry.

Established in 2000, the SDE is a non-profit, self-regulating membership organisation and a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses.

3.4 The Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (www.gdland.com.hk)

The Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (GDLAND), with its headquarters in Hong Kong, is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, and is a subsidiary of GDH Limited, which is Guangdong Province's largest conglomerate operating outside mainland China.

The principal business of GDLAND is property development and investment, including but not limited to the development and operational management of the innovative commercial real estate, urban complex and industrial business complex. As the strategic arm of GDH Limited, GDLAND engages in the business development of commercial real estate, as well as the projects of urban and industrial complex.

GDLAND's flagship project, namely the "Buxin Project", is planned to become the biggest and most advanced jewellery mart in the world, including a large-scale jewellery trading and exhibition centre along with other facilities, with a lot size of over 87,000 square metres and the construction scale (floor area) is expected to be more than 700,000 square metres. The Buxin Project, which is located in the Buxin area of Luohu district in Central Shenzhen, close to the Shuibei Gold and Jewellery Base, is expected to develop the area into one of the most influential gold and jewellery trading and exchange platforms in China and around the world.

4.  About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com)

Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia is the largest trade show organiser in Asia and the largest commercial organiser in China, India and Malaysia. Established with its headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia and in the US, UBM Asia has a strong global presence in 24 major cities with 32 offices and 1,300 staff.

With a track record spanning over 30 years, UBM Asia operates in 19 market sectors with 230 events, 28 targeted trade publications, 18 round-the-clock online products for over 2,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world. We provide a one-stop diversified global service for high-value business matching, quality market news and online trading networks.

UBM Asia has extensive office networks in China, Southeast Asia and India, three of the world's fastest growing B2B events markets. UBM China has 12 offices in the major cities in mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Guzhen and Shenzhen, where we organise 90 events. In ASEAN, UBM Asia operates from its offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines with 70 events in this region. UBM India teams in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai organise over 20 events every year across the country.

UBM Asia was awarded 'Asia's Most Reliable Trade Show Organizer Award' in Hong Kong's Most Valuable Companies Awards (HKMVCA) 2016.

 

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Source: JNA
Keywords: Fashion Jewelry Retail
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