The Ministry of Energy and Minerals in conjunction with Tanzania Mineral Dealers Association (TAMIDA) will hold the Arusha International Gem, Jewellery and Minerals Fair (AIGJMF) at the Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha, Tanzania from October 28 – 31, this year.
Expanding on the vision in this inaugural year, the four-day event promises to once again bring together premier gemstone and mineral producers from thirteen Sub-Saharan African countries in one forum, along with renowned industry leaders, respected mineral collectors, dealers, lapidary seminars and demonstrations and round-table discussions with government leaders and industry players from our regional African partners.
According to the Deputy Minister of Energy and Minerals, Mr Stephen Masele, the 2013 AIGJMF will continue to build the foundation for an international consortium that consists of government representatives, buyers, sellers and industry experts who will work together to form the future of the gemstone trade in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Mr Masele says that Tanzania will once again be offering its popular Mine Tours to visit the sources of Tanzanite, Green Garnet & Ruby; along with tours of local lapidaries that were the result of discussions last year on increasing beneficiation back to the source; as well as the opportunity to safari in our national parks.
“As our magnificent natural resources have given so much to us, the organisers and participants of this event understand the importance of beneficiation,” Mr Masele says.
He adds that exhibitors will be required to showcase their work in the community, as well as participate in the sharing of best practices across their peers, with the continuous aim of making the mining/trading process in Sub-Saharan Africa one which invokes confidence in the end consumer.
As a special feature in the AIGJMF event, organisers continue to focus on empowering women in the gemstone trade through education in the areas of cutting and carving and mentoring by strong female leaders. At the 2012 AIGJMF, the seed was planted to support a scholarship fund for women.
As a result, Scholarship Fund Committee has been formed to take that seed and make it grow in the coming years. The Scholarship Fund Committee will report out on the progress of the programme and host a fundraiser.
“Through this programme, not only do we increase our skilled cutting and carving pool in Tanzania, we more importantly teach a sustainable trade to the women who serve as the family nucleus,” Mr Masele says.
The venue for the fair, Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha is expected to provide a comfortable and scenic environment to enjoy the show. In addition to gemstones, Arusha is the hub for many tourist destinations including beautiful national parks, cultural excursions and easy access by plane to picturesque beaches on the Indian Ocean.
According to Minister Masele, Tanzania is a peaceful and safe country, that is why we are welcoming visitors from around the world. Most notably, he says, October is one of the best month to visit the Serengeti and other southern parks, so those who choose to take in a ‘safari,’ will be seeing our parks at their best. Not only is the AIGJMF event good for business, it is a destination that is welcoming to the whole family.
In order to make sure the 2013 AIGJMF provide sufficient goods to dedicated buyers from all over the world, the government has suspended exports of gemstones from 7th October until 7th November, this year. A press release issued in Dar es Salaam by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals said only goods bought at the 2013 AIGJMF will be exported between the 28th October and 7th November, this year.
The Fair inauguration ceremony will be graced by the Minister for Energy and Minerals Professor Sospeter Muhongo. The 2013 AIGJMF will give buyers the opportunity of buying rough tanzanite of any size, following the temporary lift of the ban of export of rough tanzanite weighing above 1 gram from 28th October to November 7, this year.
Applications for exhibitors and buyers will be processed on a first come, first served basis – which shall be effective only after a confirmation letter has been duly issued by the Organising Committee. Only licensed companies and buyers will qualify for admission.
The organising committee is expected to have the unfettered right at its sole discretion to allocate or re-allocate the Exhibition booth area in the Exhibition Each exhibitor is expected to submit an application form together with a crossed cheque or bank transfer to “Arusha international Gem, Jewelry and Minerals Fair Organising Committee,” payable as a 50 per cent deposit of the total participation fee at the time of booking.
Balance of the sum payable was expected to be paid on or before September 30, this year. If payment was not made in accordance to this schedule, the paid deposit shall be forfeited and the reserved space will be reallocated. A liberalised policy is in place on the import of raw materials, consumables, machinery and tools, to facilitate the growth of the minerals industry. VAT exemptions are in place for all imports and export of rough and cut and polished gems, diamonds and precious metals.
The government’s ban on trading in and the export of raw and uncut tanzanite was meant to set the stage for the growth of a lapidary industry in which the country could attract and develop the requisite skills, which are currently lacking. For the duration of this show this will be temporarily lifted.
All imports and exports entries will be facilitated by a customs agent provided by the AIGJMF Committee. For the purpose of temporary importation of goods for the show, no duties and taxes shall be paid. However, duties and taxes should be paid on all items which will be sold at the gem show for home use (non reexported) before given to the buyer.
The differences between the imported quantity and re-exported quantity shall be accounted for in terms of payment of duties. VAT is charged on all retail purchases within mainland Tanzania. In effect since 1st January, 2012 VAT refunds are processed by Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to all eligible outgoing non-citizen passengers who are departing to foreign destinations in accordance to the Value Added Tax Act.
Tanzania has already assured the world that the forthcoming Arusha Fair will be an opportunity of a lifetime. Speaking in Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair last month, Mr Maselle seized the opportunity to invite business people from all over the world to attend the event. “Many countries from Africa and beyond will take part in the Fair in Arusha.
We would like you to come and take part,” Mr Maselle told about 3,000 traders who took part in the fair. Responding to Mr Maselle’s invitation, Thailand’s Deputy Minister of Commerce, Mr Nattawut Saikua said that business people from his country will come to Arusha for the show. “Tanzania is our best business partner in Africa.
Our Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra visited Tanzania in July, this year to promote trade, investment and bilateral ties between the two countries and we expect to cooperate in other business related areas,” he said.
By DEOGRATIAS MUSHI, Tanzania Daily News
