HONG KONG, Oct. 21, 2014 /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 fourth consecutive year.

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

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?and Director of Business Development?-- Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, said, "It is extremely encouraging to see the continuous support from both our Headline and Honoured Partners, especially Chow Tai Fook and Rio Tinto Diamonds, who have been supporting the Awards since 2012. These partnerships demonstrate their commitment to excellence, innovation and success in the gemstone and jewellery industry."

Wolfram Diener, Senior Vice President at UBM Asia, added, "We are grateful to have the support from these industry leaders who recognise the value of such a platform to encourage and motivate good practices within the industry. Their involvement has not only raised the profile of the jewellery sector, but has also driven the industry towards sustainable growth."

Rita Maltez, Head of Rio Tinto Diamonds for Greater China, said, "Rio Tinto looks forward to another successful year in 2015 as a Headline Partner of the JNA Awards. We believe the Awards will continue to grow from strength to strength as an important platform to encourage the best of our industry: the innovation, the partnerships and the passion."

Kent Wong, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, said, "Although the remarkable moments of the third edition of the JNA Awards are still fresh in our minds, we can hardly wait to welcome the Awards' 2015 edition. As a Headline Partner of the JNA Awards for four years in a row, Chow Tai Fook is delighted to join hands with new partners who are also committed to upholding best business practices by recognising excellence and achievement."

"We were pleased to be associated with the JNA Awards in 2014 as an Honoured Partner, and are honoured to be a partner again in 2015. We are also very proud to join hands with other partners in helping the jewellery industry grow in the region through the JNA Awards by encouraging innovation and recognising talent and excellence. The endeavours and commitments of everyone involved will go a long way to grow the industry, and to create an environment of professionalism and excellence for the future," commented Nishit Parikh, Director of Diarough Group.

"The Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies is proud to announce our support for JNA Awards 2015 as an Honoured Partner. Once again, we join a group of industry leaders in support of this exceptional occasion, which celebrates excellence and achievement in the global jewellery industry. Having partnered with UBM in this endeavour from its inception, we are proud that the Awards has proven to be such a prestigious and sought-after event," said Moti Ganz, Chairman of IDI.

"Guangdong Land Holdings Limited is proud to announce its support for the JNA Awards in 2015. It is an honour to support this meaningful event, to share the vision and to encourage growth and development in the industry. We look forward to a continuous and successful partnership with the JNA Awards," said Ye Xuquan, CEO of GDLAND.

The 2014 JNA Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner was held on 16 September at the InterContinental Hong Kong. One of the must-attend events in the jewellery calendar, the awards gala dinner drew more than 600 jewellery and gemstone industry leaders and VIPs, who celebrated the achievements of?27?JNA Awards Recipients and Honourees.

For more information on the event, please visit?www.JNAawards.com.

 

Notes for Editors:

1. About JNA (www.jewellerynewsasia.com)

JNA?is the flagship magazine 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.riotintodiamonds.com)

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, a leading jeweller in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, was listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2011 and has become the world's largest pure-play jeweller by market capitalisation. Chow Tai Fook is now a constituent stock of the Hang Seng China 50 Index and the Hang Seng Mainland 100 Index. Its principal products are mass luxury jewellery and high-end luxury jewellery products including gem-set jewellery, gold products, platinum and karat gold product, and watches.

The Group's iconic brand "Chow Tai Fook" and 85 years of operations represent key competitive advantages of its business. The Chow Tai Fook brand is recognised for its trustworthiness and authenticity, and renowned for its product design, quality and value.

The Group has an extensive retail network, with over 2,100 points of sale in more than 470 cities in Greater China, Singapore and Malaysia. It also has a growing presence in e-commerce. The Group's 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 retail network.

3.?About the Honoured Partners

3.1 Diarough Group (http://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 the Israeli diamond industry has an illustrious history dating back to the late 1930s.

IDI works for the benefit of Israel's diamond industry in the areas of marketing and business promotion, international communications, R&D, rough sourcing, professional training, publishing and security consultancy. IDI is responsible for industry participation in major trade fairs around the world, organising Israeli Diamond Pavilions, receptions, press conferences and other events at these fairs.

IDI operates a representative office in Hong Kong, which fosters trade relations with Asian 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 Asia's leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in mainland 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 more than 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.

 

SOURCE: JNA