Joy AlukkAs, - Solitaire International

Joy Alukkas,
chairman, Joyalukkas Group, Kerala
What are your expectations about the inaugural GGJF?
Dubai is working towards being the hub of the world and
the Expo 2020 win is a reinforcement of this fact. So I feel
the first Global Gem & Jewellery Fair to be held in Dubai
will be a grand success. Dubai is one of the most popular
destinations for jewellery shopping in the world and GGJF
will certainly help in improving and strengthening the jewellery
industry and trade in and around the region.
What is the significance of the show’s ‘cash-and-carry’
delivery format for a global retail chain like Joyalukkas?
We are eagerly looking forward to experience this and
expect this to be a more cost-effective and efficient method
for wholesalers and retailers visiting and participating in the
show. As a global retail chain, one of our core objectives is
to ensure our huge base of customers get a wide choice
of jewellery at the best possible price, and if the ‘cash and
carry’ concept helps in managing this, we will be delighted
to adopt this format.
Is Dubai the ideal choice to hold the GGJF? Why?
Dubai, the city of gold, is one of the most popular
destinations in the world for gold and jewellery shopping
hence it would be one of the most ideal places to host the
esteemed GGJF. The world-class infrastructure, the dynamic
business-friendly environment, and the visionary leadership
of Dubai has created the perfect environment to host a show
of GGJF’s stature.
Anything else you may wish to add?
I would like to wish the esteemed DMCC and the GJEPC
the very best for a grand and successful GGJF and look
forward to visiting the show in March. 
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Visitor Voices
Alena Prokofyeva
Purchase Manager, Zanzibar, Russia
Z
anzibar, a jewellery retail chain, has been in the market
for over 15 years. Today we have seven shops in Saratov
region, Russia. We retail different jewellery items made of
gold, silver, platinum, palladium, set with precious and semiprecious stones, as well as watches and accessories ranging
from $500 to $50,000. Our company representatives visit
most of the world-famous exhibitions held in Hong Kong,
Italy, Dubai, USA, Switzerland, and Turkey.
We are looking for new international partners and are
interested in cooperating with them to extend the range of
products in our inventory. We are also interested in sourcing
loose precious and semi-precious stones, as we are now
planning to open our own designer jewellery line, possibly
in collaboration with international manufacturers. At the
GGJF, we are planning to get acquainted with Indian design,
prices, and understand terms of collaboration to sell in the
Russian market.
Daria Baranova
Owner and Managing Director, Kaletta Ltd., Russia
C
urrently based out of Moscow, we deal in gemstones
and diamonds and currently specialise in mass
products. We plan to start working with exclusive stones in
a short time, to cater to the growing demand for unusual,
exclusive, high-end products. I think the GGJF will be a
great show. Since the overall economy is not very stable,
people are investing in gemstones and jewellery and Dubai
is the most convenient city for jewellery trading as it is very
easy to export to and import from the country. Some of our
biggest customers prefer to conduct business in Dubai and
we are planning on opening an office there as well. At the
show, we expect to see new and unusual products and ideas
that could be interesting for our customers. We will also be
on the lookout for new suppliers with competitive prices. 
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Mahesh Devji,
Managing Director, Devji Aurum, Bahrain
What are your expectations from the inaugural GGJF?
I think the GGJF is a good attempt and most of the jewellers
would expect to see new concepts in jewellery design and in
the years to come we would also expect to see international
pavilions.
What is the significance of the show’s ‘cash-and-carry’
delivery format for retailers in the Middle East?
‘Cash and carry’ does promote direct sales and the
manufacturer can plan their inventory. However, in the Middle
East this format is also attracting the end consumers which
may not be the target market for companies looking for
B2B connections.
Is Dubai the ideal choice to hold the GGJF? Why?
Dubai is surely an ideal choice as it has the infrastructure to
grow the event. Also, many large jewellery companies have
made Dubai their base.
Tell us something about your company. How many
outlets do you have in Bahrain and elsewhere and how
many retailers will you be bringing to the show? Where
are they basically from?
Devji Aurum has been established since 1950 in Bahrain,
started by our late father and founder of the group Devji Ramji
I am bringing a number of retailers
to the show and we are keen to
see new concepts in both gold and
diamond jewellery.”
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Visitor Voices
Sagar. Our family originates from Gujarat and at present, we
are three brothers who run the Devji Group. We currently
have four stores and four boutiques in Bahrain; five boutiques
in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; three stores in Oman; and one store
in India. We have three specialised manufacturing facilities
in Bahrain and export to the GCC countries.
I am bringing a number of retailers to the show and we
are keen to see new concepts in both gold and diamond
jewellery.
Does the Indian aesthetic in terms of designing gel with
the sensibilities of Bahrain’s consumers?
Not all designs work in the Middle East, but the Bahrain
and Dubai clients do love Indian styles in some categories.
Also, there are a lot of Indian nationals living and working
in the Middle East, who would appreciate these designs. 
T.S. Kalyanaraman
Chairman And Managing Director, Kalyan Jewellers, Thrissur
W
e expect to have a good interaction with global
suppliers at the inaugural GGJF. It will also give
residents of Dubai and the rest of the UAE an opportunity
to see jewellery that is from many different countries. Dubai
has excellent infrastructure to host such exhibitions on a
large scale. Connectivity between Asia, Europe and other
markets is also very good. Besides, it is known as the City
of Gold for its vibrant gold and jewellery markets. 
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