The first-ever international exhibition of jewellery machinery began in the capital on Thursday to promote technology integration in traditional jewellery to make the country’s gold industry an export-oriented one.

Chairman of Bashundhara Group Ahmed Akbar Sobhan inaugurated the expo. The expo will remain open for all from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm every day.

FBCCI former President Abdul Matlub Ahmed, Vice-President Amin Helaly, Indian KNC Service BAJUS Former President Dilip Kumar Roy, General Secretary Badal Chandra Roy and Indian KNC Services founder Kranti Nagvekar were present as guests at the opening ceremony.

Thirty companies from 10 countries, including India, Italy, Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, China and Thailand, have confirmed their participation in the first edition of the expo.

About the international expo, BAJUS President Sayem Sobhan Anvir said Bangladesh will have to focus on the jewellery industry, which has been neglected over the years, to march with developed countries.

“Jewellers need policy support to fetch new investment to transform Bangladesh into a prosperous ‘Sonar Bangla’. To add value to technological innovation, the private sector should come forward along with public entities. Then we’ll get the expected results and productivity will increase,” he said, expressing his desire to develop the jewellery industry as an export-oriented one.

BAJUS President expressed the hope that the IJMEB-2024 will enrich the Bangladeshi jewellery industry through sharing knowledge among the participating countries.

“The expo will introduce modern machinery among the sector people. We aim to bring back the golden days of Bangladeshi jewellery ornaments. To realise the dream, we have to up-skill our goldsmiths with the changing technology in the jewellery sector around the world,” he said.

Sayem Sobhan Anvir said the jewellers have to march forward with technology to foster gold exports from Bangladesh.

“The jewellery sector will grow if there are new factories. Our main objective is to create a new horizon in the export market by boosting the gold industry of Bangladesh. The integration of machines is important to tap the export potential,” he said.

Indian KNC Services founder and chief executive officer Kranti Nagvekar said her company supported Bangladesh in hosting such an international expo after Saudi Arabia, the UAE and India. “When we roam around the world, we hear appraisal of ornaments made by Bangladeshi goldsmiths. When machines add value to the works of goldsmiths, Bangladesh will excel in global gold markets in style,” she said.

Among the participating companies, Tishya CNC Engineering Works, Neo Instruments, Solanki Mechanic Works, Ira Corporation, Quantum Equipment, ACZET Solutions, Anant jewels & Technology, Micromac Industries, and Pacio Traders registered from India. From Italy, two companies -- JTE and FASTI -- confirmed their participation. OTEC and GUVENIS from Turkiye while Thailand company BSIC and Chinese company DO IT Industries are representing their respective countries.

Five companies from Bangladesh -- Dreamz Instrument Technology, RAJAISWARI, Expert Instrument Technology, Trust Instrument Bangladesh and RAT’s BD -- are participating in the expo.

bd-pratidin/GR