New Trade Show to Launch in Dubai

RAPAPORT... Informa, which runs the September Hong Kong show, has joined together with the Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) to launch a new fair in Dubai.The first edition of Jewellery, Gem & Technology (JGT) Dubai will take place from February 22 to 24 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the companies said Monday. The event - a partnership with the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) - will replace IEG's VOD Dubai International Jewellery Show.JGT Dubai will benefit from Informa's portfolio of events, digital platform and media capabilities, as well as IEG's "resources, focus and deep local knowledge," the companies added. In addition to the defunct VOD show, IEG organizes VicenzaOro, an annual exhibition in Vicenza, Italy.Unlike VOD, the new fair "will be exclusively B2B [business-to-business] - we won't have a B2C [business-to-consumer] part of the show," said Corrado Peraboni, CEO of IEG, at a launch event Monday. "We will also have technology in addition to gold, jewelry and gems. This is something different. We are trying to [focus] our efforts with Informa to create a real international event."Informa will also roll out its Jewellery World Awards (JWA) at the new exhibition, holding the inaugural JWA Dubai during the fair.Image: The Dubai Marina district. (Shutterstock)