HONG KONG, March 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- JNA proudly welcomes the KGK Group, a global leader in the world of precious gemstones and jewellery, as an Honoured Partner for the 2017 edition of the JNA Awards.
KGK Group is the latest name to be added to the stellar roster of sponsors led by Headline Partners Rio Tinto Diamonds and Chow Tai Fook, together with fellow Honoured Partners the Shanghai Diamond Exchange, Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange, and Guangdong Land Holdings Limited, in supporting one of the jewellery and gemstone industry's most prestigious and coveted awards initiatives.
Now in its sixth year, the annual JNA Awards recognises and honours individuals and companies that have demonstrated innovation, sustainability, excellence, best business practices and outstanding business performance.
Letitia Chow, Founder of JNA, Chairperson of the JNA Awards and Director of Business Development -- Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, said, "Having been in the industry for over a century, KGK Group has successfully positioned itself as a key global player from mines to brands, championing continuous innovation and diversification. The group's commitment and unremitting efforts exemplify the core principles of the JNA Awards in challenging the status quo and upholding best business practices."
Chow added, "We are thrilled to be partnering with the KGK Group and we look forward to working closely with all our Partners to take the lead in promoting the growth and development of the jewellery industry."
Sanjay Kothari, Vice Chairman of KGK Group, remarked, "It always gives me immense satisfaction to be actively involved in the growth and development of the jewellery industry. The JNA Awards is one such opportunity where we can celebrate excellence and achievements in the jewellery and gemstone trade at large. Joining as an Honoured Partner this year, I feel a sense of pride, along with utmost gratification, to see KGK taking a stride ahead with the JNA Awards."
Established more than a century by the Kothari family of Jaipur (India), the KGK Group, now in its fourth generation, operates a vertically integrated business covering the mining, sourcing, manufacturing and distribution of coloured stones, diamonds and jewellery with a global presence across 19 countries spanning Asia, Australia, North and South America, Europe and Africa. It is a De Beers Sightholder, an Alrosa Alliance partner and a Rio Tinto Select Diamantaire.
The JNA Awards is now open for entries until midnight (Hong Kong time) of 5 May 2017. There is no fee to enter and interested parties can submit the entry form online.
The Honourees or shortlisted entrants will be announced on 22 June 2017 at the June 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 leading diamond producers and operates a globally integrated mine-to-market diamond 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).
Rio Tinto's diamond sales and marketing activities, headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, are supported by a network of representative offices in Hong Kong, Mumbai and New York.
Rio Tinto believes in supporting consumer confidence in its diamonds and plays an active role in addressing key industry issues surrounding product integrity and sustainable development. It 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) was listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2011.
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. premium 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 2,300 POS of Chow Tai Fook and Hearts On Fire spanning more than 500 cities in Greater China, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea and the United States, as well as a fast growing e-tail network through operating its Chow Tai Fook e-shop and other e-tail accounts on major 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 distribution channels.
3. About the Honoured Partners
3.1 KGK Group (www.kgkgroup.com)
The KGK Group was founded in 1905 by Kesrimal Kothari and Ghisilal Kothari of Jaipur (India), with the humble task of trading gemstones between India and Burma. With a global presence across 19 countries today, the privately held group has evolved into one of the most preferred brands in the gemstone and jewellery industry, with a vertically integrated operation that spans the entire supply chain from mines to brands. KGK is one of the few conglomerates covering the entire spectrum of mining, sourcing, manufacturing and distribution of coloured gemstones, diamonds and jewellery for over a century.
KGK Group has a resilient team of 12,000 employees with operations and offices in Asia, Australia, North and South America, Europe and Africa. Having achieved an impeccable reputation in the gemstone, diamond and jewellery trade, the group has recently diversified into real estate.
3.2 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.
3.3 The Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange (http://en.gdgje.com/)
Founded in February 2016, the Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange is one of two provincial jewellery trading platforms authorised by the People's Government of Guangdong Province.
Aggregating resources from key industrial hubs across Guangdong including Guangzhou, Pingzhou of Foshan, Yangmei of Jieyang and Sihui of Zhaoqing, the Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange joins hands with world-renowned jewellery brands in setting up an international supply chain integrated service platform that offers a secure and convenient trading experience for domestic and overseas jewellers.
The Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange is set to benefit China's jewellery industry in a variety of areas, such as the promotion of a healthier and more balanced international division of labour, foreign trade development, cross-border resource management and consumer market growth. As part of this effort, it will take full advantage of the base and influence of Guangdong's jewellery industry and the benefits stemming from the Belt and Road Initiative to establish linkages with national and global gemstone and jewellery markets.
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, Thailand 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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