Delhi Jewellery & Gem Fair 2021: Ushering in a New Era of Brilliance and Growth
2nd – 4th October 2021 – Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
New Delhi, 29th September 2021: Informa Markets in India, recognized as India’s premier B2B events organizer, was proud to present the highly anticipated 9th edition of North India’s largest International Jewellery trade show – The Delhi Jewellery & Gem Fair (DJGF). This prestigious event took place at Pragati Maidan, Hall Number 5, New Delhi, from October 2nd to 4th, 2021, operating daily from 10:00 AM to 06:00 PM. DJGF 2021 emerged as a critical platform for the gems and jewellery industry, facilitating business connections, showcasing innovation, and driving economic resurgence in a post-pandemic landscape.
The three-day expo was a grand spectacle, featuring an impressive participation from over 200 exhibitors. Attendees had the unparalleled opportunity to explore more than 850 traditional, modern, and innovative designer brands, collectively presenting over 15,000 unique designs. This vast array of products cemented DJGF’s reputation as a comprehensive sourcing hub for every segment of the jewellery market. The event successfully brought together prime jewellers, import and export merchants, and a diverse range of key industry stakeholders, fostering a dynamic environment for collaboration and growth. The fair garnered robust support from leading industry associations, including The Bullion & Jewellers Association (IBJA), Gems & Jewellery Trade Council of India (GJTCI), Delhi Jewellers Association, Maliwada Jewellers Association, Meerut Bullion Traders Association, and the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation, among many others, underscoring its pivotal role within the sector.
The Resurgence of India’s Dynamic Gems & Jewellery Sector
Speaking on the return of DJGF in its physical format for the 9th edition, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India, highlighted the profound significance of the gems and jewellery industry to the Indian economy. “The Gems and Jewellery industry stands as one of the most substantial businesses in India, playing an indispensable role in the nation’s economic framework,” Mr. Mudras stated. He elaborated on its impressive contribution, noting that India’s gold and diamond trade alone contributed 7.5% to India’s GDP, while also contributing 14% to India’s total merchandise exports. This sector is not just a driver of economic value but also a massive generator of employment opportunities, with projections indicating it would employ 8.23 million persons by 2022, a significant increase from 5 million in 2020.
Mr. Mudras further emphasized the evolving landscape of the industry, particularly the critical role of organized players. “In the coming years, organized players in the industry will continue to play a fundamental role as they possess the potential to adeptly adapt to consumer and economic shifts,” he explained. These established brands are crucial for guiding the market, not only by providing a diverse range of products and designs but also by opening up new avenues for growth and innovation. He also addressed the transformative impact of the ongoing pandemic on consumer behavior, noting a significant shift towards online platforms. “A recent industry report indicated that the online gold market in India, though still nascent with 1-2% growth, is witnessing immense demand from both burgeoning digital players who perceive this market as a substantial opportunity, and established jewellers who view this digital channel as an essential augmentation to their traditional brick-and-mortar models.”
Unveiling Exquisite Designs and Strategic Market Timing
Mr. Mudras articulated the excitement surrounding the event’s return, stating, “The much-awaited Delhi Jewellery and Gem Fair is back in its physical avatar as part of our Restart 2.0 initiative, meticulously designed to showcase this industry in a structured setting for the buyer community. We aim to instill confidence, offer unparalleled variety, ensure authenticity, and maintain complete transparency.” He highlighted North India’s unique position as a major market renowned for its deep affinity for gleaming and statement jewellery pieces. The fair proudly featured an extensive range, including timeless Mughal antique jewellery, intricate gold designs, scintillating diamonds, vibrant rubies, lush emeralds, serene sapphires, traditional polkis, classic kundan, and auspicious navratna jewellery. These exquisite collections were all presented under one roof, providing a magnificent preview for buyers.
The strategic timing of DJGF, commencing just before the highly anticipated wedding and festive seasons, was a critical factor for participating jewellers. This period typically witnesses a significant surge in sales and customer footfalls. “With an array of authentic and unique jewellery and commencing just before the wedding and festive season when jewellers will see higher sales and footfalls, DJGF promises substantial growth for the industry,” Mr. Mudras concluded, emphasizing the event’s role as a catalyst for economic vitality and commercial success.
A National Hub for Jewellery Trade and Networking
DJGF 2021 transcended regional boundaries, attracting participants from major Indian cities such as New Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Ambala, among others. The event served as an unparalleled gathering point for a diverse array of industry professionals. Jewellery wholesalers, retailers, importers & exporters converged with expert jewellery manufacturers, diamond, gemstone, and pearl suppliers & traders. The fair also welcomed precious metal and jewellery mounting traders and suppliers, alongside influential representatives from trade bodies and governmental organizations. All these stakeholders gathered under one roof, creating a vibrant ecosystem designed for meeting, connecting, networking, and ultimately, growing their businesses. Exhibitors showcased an extensive spectrum of products, encompassing different styles and designs across Gold, Diamonds, Gemstones, Silver, and Loose stones categories, alongside state-of-the-art machinery, presenting over 850 distinct brands.
Beyond the impressive exhibits, the expo was meticulously structured to be a comprehensive platform for knowledge exchange and industry insights. It hosted a series of engaging knowledge seminars led by esteemed industry experts, offering invaluable perspectives on current market dynamics and future trends. DJGF aimed to deliver an unparalleled experience for sourcing, conducting business, and exchanging vital knowledge regarding Indian and international market trends. Crucially, the event also sought to significantly boost the morale of a sector that had navigated considerable volatility in recent times. The fair was further enriched with a number of world-class features, including interactive live workshops, insightful conferences, and dedicated knowledge sessions, all designed to foster innovation and learning within the gems and jewellery community.
Empowering Women: The Shakti – Women Achiever’s Awards
This year marked a significant step forward with the introduction of a groundbreaking initiative: the Shakti – Women Achiever’s Awards. In alignment with the “Amrit Mahotsav” initiative championed by the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, DJGF, in collaboration with the Gems & Jewellery Trade Council of India (GJTCI), proudly launched these awards. This pioneering program was conceived to acknowledge and celebrate women associated with the jewellery industry for their exceptional contributions as leaders and innovators, recognizing their pivotal role in shaping the sector’s future.
Commenting on this empowering initiative, Ms. Shantibhai Patel, President of the Gem & Jewellery Trade Council Of India (GJTCI), expressed her enthusiasm: “We at Gems & Jewellery Trade Council of India (GJTCI) are incredibly excited to launch ‘Shakti,’ a Women Power Program. This initiative is designed to empower women associated with the jewellery industry and will undoubtedly aid India as a country in reaching new international levels of recognition and influence. We are confident that ‘Shakti’ will elevate the Jewellery & Gems Industry to unprecedented heights.”
Adding her perspective, Ms. Pallavi Mehra, Group Director – Informa Markets in India, highlighted the broader impact of the awards: “We at Informa Markets in India are truly delighted to be associated with the Gems & Jewellery Trade Council of India and are thrilled to launch the Shakti – Women Achiever’s Awards at our signature jewellery show – DJGF. This initiative of ours will not only foster the economy and the jewellery industry but will also profoundly encourage the remarkable women leaders we have in this industry to grow further and achieve even greater success. As a woman myself, I am genuinely looking forward to hosting this first-of-its-kind awards ceremony. We eagerly anticipate seeing everyone at DJGF.” This initiative underscored DJGF’s commitment not only to commercial growth but also to social progress and gender empowerment within the industry.
Building Momentum: Pre-Event Engagement and Festival of Business
To generate considerable buzz and engagement leading up to the main event, DJGF executed a series of highly successful roadshows, reaching out to the vibrant jewellery community in key North Indian cities such as Lucknow, Ambala, and Meerut. These precursor events were instrumental in building anticipation and fostering direct connections with regional stakeholders. Furthermore, extensive on-ground, shop-to-shop activities were conducted across more than 25 cities throughout India, forming a crucial part of the pre-event outreach strategy. These direct engagement efforts ensured widespread awareness and maximized participation from across the national jewellery landscape.
The DJGF formed an intrinsic and vital component of the broader ‘Festival of Business – Ushering Economic Resurgence’ campaign, a comprehensive initiative by Informa Markets designed to invigorate various sectors during the festive season. The Festival of Business was a dynamic medley of nine back-to-back shows, scheduled until the end of October, spanning different verticals and presented in physical, digital, and hybrid formats. This ambitious campaign was meticulously curated to help businesses rediscover the joy and efficacy of in-person reunions, thereby cementing bonds, expanding networks, driving strategic business objectives, and identifying innovations through direct touch and feel experiences. It also facilitated the gathering of crucial marketing intelligence and the development of customized solutions through various platforms, all operating under the expansive umbrella of each B2B show, reaffirming Informa Markets’ dedication to industry revival and growth.
Commitment to Safety: The Informa AllSecure & Travel Safety Guidelines
In an era demanding heightened safety measures, DJGF 2021 was amply supported by Informa’s robust AllSecure & Travel Safety Guidelines. This comprehensive safety standard initiative was meticulously developed by Informa Markets to ensure the well-being of all participants – exhibitors, attendees, visitors, speakers, sponsors, and customers – converging at the event. Introduced to facilitate physical trade exhibitions amidst the evolving “new normal,” AllSecure comprised a detailed set of enhanced measures designed to create a secure and controlled environment. These protocols provided attendees with the reassurance and confidence that their participation was within a safe and protected setting.
The international protocols underpinning AllSecure were founded on broader, fundamental principles: rigorous Physical Distancing measures, comprehensive Protect & Detect strategies, stringent Cleaning & Hygiene practices, and transparent, detailed Communications on all these principles. By meticulously implementing these guidelines, DJGF 2021 not only delivered an exceptional business platform but also prioritized the health and safety of its entire community, setting a benchmark for secure event execution in the industry. This unwavering commitment to safety underscored Informa Markets’ dedication to responsible event management and fostering a trusted environment for business interaction.