Dubai, Oct 14 (IANS) Exhibitors from India are among those from 20 countries participating in a global gem show taking place in Dubai.Over 100 exhibitors from the coloured stones industry have gathered here for the International Gem Show Dubai 2008 that started Monday.

The three-day exhibition, under the patronage of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), is being organised by the International Coloured Gemstone Association (ICA) and supported by the Middle East GemBureau.

“We are very pleased with the response received for this gem show which underlines Dubai’s position as a new global hub for the trade of cut and rough coloured gemstones,” Gaiti Rabbani, executive director of the Coloured Stones and Pearls Division at DMCC, said while addressing the conference on its opening day.

Apart from India, the show features major gemstones buyers and manufacturers from Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey Russia and the US.

Exhibitors have to be members of ICA or Dubai Gems Club and sign an ethics agreement, a step being taken to foster buyer confidence, the DMCC said in a statement.

While the first two days are dedicated to trade, a consumer day will be conducted on the last day of the exhibition where the general public can view and purchase jewellery.

According to ICA president Andrew Cody, Dubai has emerged as a major hub for gems trading.

“Being strategically located amidst international trade flows, Dubai has emerged as an important centre for precious commodities trade,” Cody said.

“In addition, the government of Dubai and DMCC’s role in particular in further developing the coloured stones trade has clearly positioned Dubai as the ideal location for a dedicated trade fair,” he added.

Cody said the Dubai event, the first such in the Middle East, has been devised in a manner that is completely different from other trade fairs.

“The ICA Gem Show Dubai 2008 provides a professional networking environment for creating long-term business partnerships from across the value chain of the global coloured stones industry. This will be a compact and luxurious show where buyers will have confidence that they are dealing with ethical traders,” he said.

ICA is a non-profit trade association, representing the international coloured gemstone industry in 46 countries.

With over 500 members, ICA partners with industry bodies and organisations to foster growth and networking opportunities in the coloured stones industry.

Among the leading names from the coloured stones industry taking part in the Dubai show are K. Brunini Jewels, JOEB Enterprises, Canelhas, Pink Stone and Tavares Gems.