According to Sanjay Kothari, Convener, exhibition committee of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), the move is the outcome of persistent efforts by the union commerce Ministry and Indian Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) over the past few years to get an entry here.

Earlier, India was not allowed participation in this exhibition, but organisers of this World Watch Clock and Jewellery Show eventually agreed this year to allow Indian participation and earmarked 250 square metres of space for India for the purpose. Of this, 160 square metres will be utilised by HMT and Titan Industries and the remaining 90 square meters have been made available to GJEPC for the display of Indian jewellery.

Kothari says that as many as 25-30 firms showed theireagerness to avail of this opportunity to participate in this show. However in view of the limited space available to it, GJEPC could select only nine firms for participation. Some norms like the quality of their creations, export performance, manufacturing capacity etc. ere laid down for selection.

Of the nine firms thus selected, seven are from Mumbai and one each from Delhi and Jaipur. The cost of participation per unit may come to about Rs five lakhs and additional equal amount might be spent by each exhibitor on air fares and stay of some personnel of Basel for the show.

He disclosed that participants are not allowed to effect counter sales. They can only take down orders from buyers and supply the goods subsequently as per terms of their contracts.

When asked about the problems, if any, in respect of clearance by the Customs, he said, the Customs takes photographs of the products taken out of the country for display and allows reentry of the same on the basis of these pictures.

He stressed thatthough the space available this time for the display of Indian products at Basel was limited next year efforts will be made to get larger space so that more Indian manufacturers can display their products at this important exhibition, which may give them an opportunity to establish new contacts, and see the products displayed by others. Also, they can see the latest machinery available to the industry.

He saw the possibility of some more Indian manufacturers displaying their products through their collaborators. Also, De Beers will be having its own stall in which some Indian jewellery articles may also find place. At the time of the Basel show, GJEPC also proposes to organise `India Day' to promote Indian jewellery.

According to Kothari Indian firms selected for first participation in this great international show are : Bapalal Keshavlal, Bhagwandass Khanna, Dwarka International Ornamentations (India) Ltd, Shankar Jewels Ltd, Sovereign Diamonds Ltd, Sunjewels India Ltd, Uni-Design Jewellery Ltd, andChubbs Diamonds Ltd. Also, there will be a GJEPC's own stall.

In view of international importance of the Basel show, GJEPC may regularly participate in it every year. Efforts will also be made to get more space at the next year's show.

Referring to importance attached to this most important global show of watches and jewellery, Kothari points out that it is the Gateway to Europe in which nearly 2400 firms from all over the world participate.

Besides, it attracts thousands of top professionals to see for themselves the latest products and equipment available in the world.

In 1998, nearly 54 per cent of the participants had displayed jewellery and the rest represented manufacturers of watches clocks and allied industries. The location of Basel is at the heart of international manufacturers of watches and jewellery, he adds.