NINE domestic gem trading companies will represent Myanmar at the Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair 2005, to be held from February 22 to 27 at the Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre in the Thai capital.

It will be the 35th edition of the annual event.

“This is the first time Myanmar traders will go to this fair as representatives of Myanmar,” said U Sein Win Hlaing, the secretary general of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

The federation and the Ministry of Commerce have jointly organised Myanmar’s participation in the event.

“In the past a few traders from Myanmar used their own resources to go to the fair as individuals, but this time we are going as a business delegation headed by the federation and the Commerce Ministry,” U Sein Win Hlaing said.

He said the federation will select nine domestic gem and jewellery companies to participate in the Bangkok event.

“Normally traders have to pay government tax on their gemstones before they go to a foreign trade fair, but this time they will pay the tax only after they have sold gems at the fair,” he said.

U Sein Win Hlaing said four vendors’ booths have been reserved for the Myanmar companies. The event will feature a total of 2600 such booths.

“It will give foreign buyers a good opportunity to buy, directly from Myanmar sellers, authentic gemstones that are primarily produced in our country, such as jade, ruby and sapphire,” he said.

“And it will give Myanmar traders a good opportunity to expand their markets,” he said.

The fair – jointly organised by Thailand’s Department of Export Promotion, and the Thai Gem and Jewellery Traders Association – attracted more than 25,000 visitors last year.