Rio Tinto, Chow Tai Fook Return as Headline Partners of JNA Awards 2016

HONG KONG, Oct. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The JNA Awards continues to inspire the trust and confidence of the industry, as it welcomes back Rio Tinto Diamonds and Chow Tai Fook as Headline Partners for the fifth consecutive year.

Diarough Group, Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI), Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE) and Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (GDLAND) have also renewed their sponsorship of the Awards. Both IDI and SDE have been championing the JNA Awards since its launch, while Diarough and GDLAND have come on board as Honoured Partners since 2014.

The JNA Awards honours companies and individuals that have demonstrated excellence and made positive contributions to their businesses and communities, with a focus on achievements made in Asia. Nominees are selected through an independent, transparent and rigorous judging process. The programme culminates with a gala dinner and awards ceremony held on the sidelines of the world's No. 1 fine jewellery B2B show, the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair.

Letitia Chow, founder of JNA, Director of Business Development -- Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, and Chair of the JNA Awards judging panel, said, "We are extremely thrilled to join hands with our returning Headline and Honoured Partners in celebrating the upcoming fifth anniversary of the JNA Awards in 2016. The Awards plays an important role in celebrating and inspiring successes within the gemstone and jewellery industry, and our partners' loyal support has helped us make that happen."

Wolfram Diener, Senior Vice President at UBM Asia, added, "It is particularly gratifying to receive continuous support from these distinguished industry leaders who share our values in promoting best practices within the industry and setting high standards to advance the global jewellery community. Their involvement will certainly create synergy to drive the industry forward with greater innovation and sustainable growth."

Rita Maltez, Director of Rio Tinto Diamonds' Greater China Representative Office, commented, "It has been five years since we established our office in Hong Kong, of which our partnership with the JNA Awards is an example of the kind of successful partnership we have developed. We are delighted that the trust, respect and hard work invested in these partnerships have created value-adding opportunities we could have only dreamt of five years ago. We look forward to continuing as a Headline Partner of the JNA Awards and to nurture new and successful partnerships across the entire value chain."

Kent Wong, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, said, "2016 will mark a milestone for the JNA Awards as it celebrates its fifth anniversary. This highly acclaimed event is truly a platform to showcase the passion and expectations that we have for the industry. With our continuous collaboration and concerted effort, the industry will shine even brighter. Chow Tai Fook will, no doubt, continue to render its full support."

Naresh Surana, Director of Diarough Hong Kong, said, "It gives us immense pleasure to announce the extension of our partnership with the JNA Awards for the third year. This demonstrates our continued commitment to promote excellence and recognise well-deserved achievers and major contributors in the industry."

Ira Tsirlina, Chief Marketing Officer of IDI, added, "IDI has had a great collaboration with the JNA Awards for four years since its inception. We continue to witness the significant contribution that it is making to the advancement of the diamond and Jewellery industry. We are therefore delighted to renew our support as Honoured Partners for the fifth year."

Lin Qiang, President and Managing Director of SDE, said, "We are exceptionally proud to be a long-time partner of this very meaningful event for five consecutive years. This event is part of our broader effort to support the sustainable development of the jewellery industry."

"GDLAND is extremely honoured to continue its support of the JNA Awards for the third year. We are very much looking forward to this outstanding event that delivers significant benefits for the jewellery and gemstone trade," remarked Ye Xuquan, CEO of GDLAND.

The JNA Awards 2015 Ceremony and Gala Dinner was held on 20 September at the Regal Airport Hotel, Hong Kong. One of the most anticipated events on the jewellery calendar. The awards gala dinner drew more than 500 jewellery and gemstone industry leaders and VIPs, who celebrated the achievements of 19 JNA Awards Recipients and 31 Honourees.

For more information on the event, please visit 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, gemstone, jewellery manufacturing, and equipment and supplies sectors.

2.      About the Headline Partners

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

Rio Tinto operates a fully integrated diamonds business from exploration through to sales and marketing. It is one of the world's major diamond producers through its 100 percent control of the Argyle mine in Australia, 60 percent interest in Diavik mine in Canada, 78 percent interest in the Murowa mine in Zimbabwe and 100 percent interest in the Bunder project in India.

Rio Tinto's share of the production from its three operating diamond mines is sold through its sales and marketing office in Antwerp, with representative offices in Mumbai, Hong Kong and New York. It also operates a niche cutting and polishing factory in Perth for the rare pink diamonds from its Argyle mine. Rio Tinto is a leading supporter of the Kimberley Process, as well as a founding member of the Responsible Jewellery Council.

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

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd, one of the world's leading jeweller and the largest in terms of sales, was listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2011. Chow Tai Fook is now a constituent stock of the Hang Seng China 50 Index and the Hang Seng Mainland 100 Index.

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 US luxury jewellery brand, has further underpinned the Group's stature as a diamond expert in the industry.

The Group has an extensive retail network comprising 2,270 Chow Tai Fook and Hearts On Fire points of sale spanning nearly 500 cities in Greater China, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and the United States, as well as a strong and fast growing e-tail network through operating its Chow Tai Fook e-Shop and various e-tail accounts on other online shopping platforms.

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

3.      About the Honoured Partners

3.1 Diarough Group (www.diarough.com )

Diarough Group was established in Antwerp in 1975 and owns diamond polishing factories in China, India, Thailand and Botswana, with a network of sales offices around the world. Diarough is known among the most professional and respected names in the international diamond industry.

Diarough believes in building and nurturing long-term business relationships based on mutual trust, finding solutions to business and marketing problems, creating marketable opportunities through innovative products and providing excellent client services.

Its jewellery manufacturing unit Uni-Design has produced many award-winning jewellery pieces, which have been proudly worn by celebrities on the red carpet over the years.

The Group employs over 3,500 people and is engaged in a wide range of diamond business activities like rough trading, cutting, polishing, jewellery manufacturing and marketing to retailers, chain stores, global brands and private labels worldwide. Diarough employs advanced technology and modern work speed with traditional ethical business practices upon which the Company was founded.

3.2 Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (www.israelidiamond.co.il )

The Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI) is a non-profit, public interest company representing all institutions involved in the Israeli Diamond Industry. Israel is one of the world's leading diamond centres and IDI works to enhance Israel's position as a major trading and manufacturing hub.

IDI works to benefit Israel's diamond industry in a variety of areas including:  marketing and PR, technological innovation, encouraging local manufacturing, training, and security consulting. IDI seeks out new markets for Israeli diamonds and develops existing ones.  As part of this effort, IDI organizes industry participation in major trade fairs around the world, establishing Israeli Diamond Pavilions and sponsoring events at these shows.

IDI operates a representative office in Hong Kong, which fosters trade relations with Asian markets.

3.3 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.

3.4 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 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 30 offices and 1,300 staff.

With a track record spanning over 30 years, UBM Asia operates in 20 market sectors with 230 dynamic face-to-face exhibitions and high-level professional conferences, 23 targeted trade publications, 20 round-the-clock online products for over 1,000,000 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 11 offices in the major cities in mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Guzhen and Shenzhen, where we organise 90 exhibitions and conferences. In ASEAN, UBM Asia operates from its offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines with over 40 events in this region. UBM India teams in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai organise 40 exhibitions and conferences every year across the country.

CONTACT:

Yan Lee
Phone Number: 852 2516 2184
Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE JNA