Baselworld Opens to High Expectations

Photo: BASELWORLD

(IDEX Online News) – The lingering good feeling from the Hong Kong show earlier this month is sending exhibitors to the Baselworld show with a strong sense of optimism. This is mostly felt by diamond and semi precious gem wholesalers.

Some 1,892 exhibitors, unchanged from last year, from 45 courtiers are offering watches (30.9 percent of exhibitors), jewelry (39.6 percent) and related products are looking forward to a large number of visitors to the show.

On the first day of the week-long trade fair, traffic was still slow, however activity in many of the booths was good. With time to dedicate to each buyer, exhibitors are already reporting business taking place.

Traffic is expected to pickup in the coming days, peeking during the weekend.

While being very much a European event, two thirds of exhibitors are European firms, show organizers chose to invite India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma to take part in the opening ceremony, underscoring the importance of the Indian market to the global jewelry industry – both as a manufacturing center and a consumer market.

The show closes on Thursday March 31.