JNA Awards 2017 Now Accepting Entries

There is no fee to enter the prestigious international award. Qualified companies and individuals, including past entrants, from around the world are invited to self-nominate or nominate others in the following categories:

1.   Brand of the Year -- Retail
2.   Industry Innovation of the Year
3.   Manufacturer of the Year -- Jewellery
4.   Outstanding Enterprise of the Year -- ASEAN
5.   Outstanding Enterprise of the Year -- Greater China
6.   Outstanding Enterprise of the Year -- India
7.   Retailer of the Year (450 outlets and below)
8.   eSupplier of the Year
9.   Sustainability Initiative of the Year
10. Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Age 40 and below)

The Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient will be nominated by the Awards organiser and further announcement will be made at a later date.

Entries will be evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges comprised of five international industry experts, namely Albert Cheng, Advisor to the World Gold Council and former Managing Director, Far East (WGC); James Courage, former Chief Executive of Platinum Guild International (PGI) and former Chairman of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC); Lin Qiang, President and Managing Director of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE); Nirupa Bhatt, Managing Director of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in India and the Middle East; and Yasukazu Suwa, Chairman of Suwa & Son, Inc.

Since the Awards is gaining wider recognition and higher participation rate, the organiser said more interviews or site visits will be conducted as part of the judging process.  Entrants who submit their nominations or register early would likely increase their chances of being interviewed or visited by members of the judging panel to gain a better understanding of their operations and business models.

Letitia Chow, Founder of JNA, Chairperson of the JNA Awards and Director of Business Development -- Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, said, "The JNA Awards is a powerful channel for companies to showcase their businesses. We find it very promising to see past Recipients and Honourees leveraging the value of the Awards to raise their profile among the most respected and admired names in the industry, and gain recognition within the trade."

The JNA Awards 2017 is supported by Headline Partners Rio Tinto Diamonds and Chow Tai Fook (CTF), together with the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE), Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange, and Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (GDLAND) serving as Honoured Partners.

Rita Maltez, Director of Rio Tinto Diamonds for Greater China, said, "The JNA Awards has become an important platform for the gem and jewellery industry to come together, share successes and generate new ideas. Rio Tinto is delighted to have been a supporter of the Awards from the beginning, and to help nurture its growth, together with the organisers and the other awards partners, into one of the most important events in the industry calendar. We look forward to another successful year for the Awards in 2017."

"Over the last few years, it has been exciting to witness various innovations from our peers to enhance their competitiveness, which have resulted in tremendous advancements in the jewellery industry amid a challenging operating environment. We look forward to having more outstanding participants bringing new insights to the industry and striving together to drive the jewellery industry forward," said Kent Wong, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group.

To enter the JNA Awards, interested parties must complete and submit the entry form on or no later than midnight (Hong Kong time) of 5 May 2017.

The Honourees or shortlisted entrants will be announced on 22 June 2017 at the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair.

For more information, visit http://www.jnaawards.com/ or contact:
JNA Awards Marketing 
UBM Asia (Hong Kong) 
+852 2516-2184
[email protected]

Notes for Editors:

1. About JNA (www.jewellerynewsasia.com )

JNA is the organiser of the JNA Awards and is the flagship publication of UBM Asia's Jewellery Group. First published in 1983, the title is the leader in providing up-to-date international jewellery trade news with an Asian insight. It features original, in-depth reports by experienced journalists covering the latest developments in the diamond, pearl, coloured gemstone, jewellery manufacturing, and equipment and supplies sectors.

2. About the Headline Partners

2.1 Rio Tinto Diamonds (www.riotinto.com/diamondsandminerals )

Rio Tinto Diamonds is one of the world's leading diamond producers and operates a globally integrated mine-to-market diamond business. For over three decades, the company has been an important participant in the international diamond market with two world-class underground diamond mines in Australia (Argyle) and Canada (Diavik).

Rio Tinto's diamond sales and marketing activities, headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, are supported by a network of representative offices in Hong Kong, Mumbai and New York.

Rio Tinto believes in supporting consumer confidence in its diamonds and plays an active role in addressing key industry issues surrounding product integrity and sustainable development. It is a leading supporter of the Kimberley Process, as well as a founding member of the Responsible Jewellery Council and the Diamond Producers Association.

2.2 Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (www.chowtaifook.com )

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (Stock Code: 1929) was listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2011.

The iconic brand "Chow Tai Fook" of the Group has been widely recognised for its trustworthiness and authenticity, and renowned for product design, quality and value. The acquisition of Hearts On Fire, an internationally acclaimed U.S. premium diamond brand, in August 2014 has further underpinned the Group's stature as a diamond expert in the industry.

The Group boasts an extensive retail network comprising over 2,300 POS of Chow Tai Fook and Hearts On Fire spanning more than 500 cities in Greater China, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea and the United States, as well as a fast growing e-tail network through operating its Chow Tai Fook e-shop and other e-tail accounts on major online shopping platforms.

The Group's sophisticated vertically integrated business model provides it with an effective and tight control over the entire operation chain from raw material procurement, design, production, to marketing and sales through its extensive distribution channels.

3. About the Honoured Partners

3.1 Shanghai Diamond Exchange (www.cnsde.com)

Authorised by the State Council, the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE) is the only diamond exchange in China and provides diamond dealers a fair and safe transaction venue under close supervision. It also enjoys a favourable taxation policy and is operated in accordance with international best practices of the diamond industry.

Established in 2000, the SDE is a non-profit, self-regulating membership organisation and a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses.

3.2 The Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange (http://en.gdgje.com/ )

Founded in February 2016, the Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange is one of two provincial jewellery trading platforms authorised by the People's Government of Guangdong Province.

Aggregating resources from key industrial hubs across Guangdong including Guangzhou, Pingzhou of Foshan, Yangmei of Jieyang and Sihui of Zhaoqing, the Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange joins hands with world-renowned jewellery brands in setting up an international supply chain integrated service platform that offers a secure and convenient trading experience for domestic and overseas jewellers.

The Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange is set to benefit China's jewellery industry in a variety of areas, such as the promotion of a healthier and more balanced international division of labour, foreign trade development, cross-border resource management and consumer market growth. As part of this effort, it will take full advantage of the base and influence of Guangdong's jewellery industry and the benefits stemming from the Belt and Road Initiative to establish linkages with national and global gemstone and jewellery markets.

3.3 The Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (www.gdland.com.hk )

The Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (GDLAND), with its headquarters in Hong Kong, is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, and is a subsidiary of GDH Limited, which is Guangdong Province's largest conglomerate operating outside Mainland China.

The principal business of GDLAND is property development and investment, including but not limited to the development and operational management of the innovative commercial real estate, urban complex and industrial business complex. As the strategic arm of GDH Limited, GDLAND engages in the business development of commercial real estate, as well as the projects of urban and industrial complex.

GDLAND's flagship project, namely the "Buxin Project", is planned to become the biggest and most advanced jewellery mart in the world, including a large-scale jewellery trading and exhibition centre along with other facilities, with a lot size of over 87,000 square metres and the construction scale (floor area) is expected to be more than 700,000 square metres. The Buxin Project, which is located in the Buxin area of Luohu district in Central Shenzhen, close to the Shuibei Gold and Jewellery Base, is expected to develop the area into one of the most influential gold and jewellery trading and exchange platforms in China and around the world.

4. About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com )

Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia is the largest trade show organiser in Asia and the largest commercial organiser in China, India, Thailand and Malaysia. Established with its headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia and in the US, UBM Asia has a strong global presence in 24 major cities with 32 offices and 1,300 staff.

With a track record spanning over 30 years, UBM Asia operates in 19 market sectors with 230 events, 28 targeted trade publications, 18 round-the-clock online products for over 2,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world. We provide a one-stop diversified global service for high-value business matching, quality market news and online trading networks.

UBM Asia has extensive office networks in China, Southeast Asia and India, three of the world's fastest growing B2B events markets. UBM China has 12 offices in the major cities in mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Guzhen and Shenzhen, where we organise 90 events. In ASEAN, UBM Asia operates from its offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines with 70 events in this region. UBM India teams in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai organise over 20 events every year across the country.

UBM Asia was awarded 'Asia's Most Reliable Trade Show Organizer Award' in Hong Kong's Most Valuable Companies Awards (HKMVCA) 2016.

SOURCE JNA

Related Links

http://www.JNAawards.com