Jewellery industry leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, are expected to gather at the 9th AEC Gems & Jewelry Presidents' Summit 2020 scheduled for March 3, 2020 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Organised by the Hong Kong Jewellery & Jade Manufacturers Association (HKJJA) under the theme, “Boosting the Hong Kong jewellery industry: Tapping new opportunities arising from the development of the Belt and Road Initiative and Greater Bay Area,” the summit aims to provide an effective platform for industry leaders in the region to discuss cooperation issues to complement each other and seek common development; actively promote the competitive advantages of Hong Kong's jewellery industry such as scientific research, identification technology, preferential tariffs under Hong Kong and ASEAN Free Trade Agreement; and further elevate Hong Kong as a window for foreign businesses to enter China, capitalising on the Greater Bay Area initiative. According to the organiser, the summit is set to attract representatives from Hong Kong and ASEAN jewellery companies and associations who wish to obtain the latest market information and prepare for future business development. Industry practitioners from jewellery institutes, gem-testing and technology companies are also invited.

The presidents' summit is held annually by jewellery industry associations and organisations from ASEAN with representatives from Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.

“The 1st ASEAN+6 Gems and Jewelry Presidents' Summit was held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2012 by the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association, which also organised the second and third editions. Since then, the summit has always been hosted by ASEAN members in the scale of '+6,' '+8' or +12.' In 2018, Shanghai, China became its first non-ASEAN host. The practice continued when Turkey held the 2019 edition,” revealed HKJJA.

Since its inception, HKJJA has been the only Hong Kong-based jewellery organisation invited to attend the summit. “This event puts Hong Kong's jewellery community in the limelight. Hong Kong and ASEAN countries have long maintained close economic and trade relations. Hong Kong is not only known for product design and craftsmanship; we also play an important role in bridging ASEAN with Chinese markets,” commented HKJJA chairman Ken Lo.