A SALES exhibition for raw jade stones, jade carvings, and jewelry opened on 23 October at the Mandalay Convention Centre on Theik Pan Street, Mandalay. All sales at the expo are being made in the local currency.
This is the first jade and jewelry sales exhibition organized by the Mandalay Regional government.
At the opening ceremony of the exhibition, held on 23 October, Mandalay Region Chief Minister Dr Zaw Myint Maung, Mandalay Mayor Dr Ye Lwin, Mandalay Security and Border Affairs Minister Colonel Kyaw Kyaw Min, Planning and Finance Minister U Myat Thu, Myanma Gems Enterprise Managing Director U Aung Nyunt Thein, Myanmar Gems Entrepreneurs Federation vice chairman U Hla Soe Oo, Myanmar Gems Entrepreneurs Association (Mandalay) chairman U Than Win, and the exhibition organizing committee chairman and Mandalay City Development Committee member U Kyaw Zaw Aung formally cut the ribbon to launch the expo.
Speaking at the event, the Mandalay Region Chief Minister said Myanmar is rich in mineral resources and gemstones, and the mineral producers are accountable to the mineral resources.
Permissions for the mining are to be properly managed so that future generations also can use the resources. Although gem mines are systematically allowed, local people are suffering from environmental degradation due to illegal mining, the Chief Minister said.
He then said Mandalay Region doesn’t produce jades, but the jade market was located in Mandalay. Therefore, the first jade sales expo was held in Mandalay to continue it in coming years.
The Chief Minister then said to also organize the expos selling the jades with other currencies.
Afterwards, Myanmar Gems Entrepreneurs Association (Mandalay) chairman U Than Win said the jade sales expo was held in Mandalay as it was the place where many jades businesses are situated.
With the development of jade industry, other businesses can also be better, he added, urging the related ministries and jade merchants to cooperate on developing the jade industry. Then, the chairman of the organizing committee of the exhibition spoke about the expo. Afterwards, the Mandalay Chief Minister and officials toured the stalls in the expo hall.
The exhibition is being held from 23 to 29 October. It will be open daily from 7 am to 5 pm. A total of 2,950 jade lots will be sold at the expo under the open tender system. Over 40 jade stalls are displaying their products at the exhibition. An admission fee of a per person to the sales expo is K 20,000 for local merchants and K 100,000 for foreign merchants.
Min Htet Aung (Man Sub-printing house)
(Translated by Hay Mar/ Kyaw Zin Tun)
Photo; Phyo Kyaw
Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar