In more ways than one, the 37^th edition of IIJS Premiere 2021,the flagship trade show held in Bengaluru by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), revived the moribund economy, not just that of the gems and jewellery sector, but all the peripheral sectors associated with the organising of the show, including transport, hotels, retail, and restaurants. Thanks to the IIJS mega expo, many hotels in Bengaluru reported 100% occupancy around the show dates.

IIJS was also the world’s first largest physical-only show held since Covid began, with the participation of 1,300+ exhibitors and over 21,000 visitors, including more than 300 international buyers. Although a couple of big international shows were held prior to IIJS, they were essentially hybrid online-offline formats.

India’s largest and Asia’s third largest show overturned all the initial scepticism surrounding the pandemic. The five-day show, has generated an estimated business worth USD 6.75 Billion! The success of IIJS Premiere 2021 is a clear indication that the gem and jewellery industry has shrugged off the pandemic’s effects on the sector and the economy at large.

While everyone loves a success story, pulling off a trade show of this magnitude – the biggest gem and jewellery trade event of 2021, according to GJEPC estimates – required intense deliberations and micromanaging, to ensure full compliance with safety norms. A major hurdle was the relocation of IIJS Premiere. The show had to move out of its permanent base for almost 30 years, the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai, as the state reserved it as a Covid centre until early 2022.

The Council with the help of the Karnataka Government ensured that the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) was a bio-bubble. It was mandatory for every person attending the show to get at least one dose of vaccination with a negative RT-PCR test done at least 48 hours prior to entry. The venue had a Covid Testing Centre along with an ambulance, quarantine room, and a doctor on call.

Colin Shah, Chairman, GJEPC, said,“We are delighted that IIJS Premiere has generated an estimated USD 6.75 Billion-worth of business. We are already witnessing a surge in exports and are confident that the industry will achieve the export target of $43.75 billion this year and contribute more than 10% of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s target of achieving $400 billion in total merchandise exports.

“IIJS would not have been possible without the unstinted support of the Karnataka State Government to help us organise this show successfully. An event of this size and scale needed a great venue, and we are glad that the BIEC stepped up to help us organise it.”