The 7th Cambodia International Gems and Jewellery Fair was inaugurated by the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An at the Dimond Island Trade Centre in Phnom Penh, yesterday, according to reports in the local media. The Fair will run till July 26, 2015.

The Fair is organised by Cambodian Ministry of Commerce in association with Hong Kong’s World Trade Fair (International) Limited. It has about 70 exhibitors, and over 8,000 visitors are expected over the next few days, officials said.

The Deputy PM said that the event provides a good platform for manufacturers and traders to interact with their customers. She said that the country’s gem and jewellery industry conducted trade of about US$ 100 mn, but it was way behind neighbours like Vietnam with trade of nearly US$ 1.12 bn and Thailand with trade of US$ 24 bn.

Lim Chhiv Ho, chairwoman of the Cambodian Gems and Jewelry Traders Association, said the one of the longer term objectives of the event was to support the growth of the industry, and it would help in attracting foreign business partners and/or investors to the sector.