The show, which concluded on Thursday, recorded an across-the-board increase in the number of buyers from different countries and region, including those from Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, as well as from the United States, Japan, Thailand, India, Australia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Italy.

According to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, 16,062 buyers were from places outside Hong Kong, accounting for 55 percent of the total.

Industry players are very optimistic on jewelry exports in 2006 despite soaring gold prices worldwide, according to an independent industry survey conducted by Oracle Added Value among 466 exhibitors and 731 buyers from around the world during the show.

Respondents said jewelry exports this year would be fueled by the growth in global economy and the emergence of in-fashion design.

About 40 percent of the interviewed buyers said the rise in gold price would not affect their orders at the show. Only 15 percent of them were worried that the rise in gold price would eat into their margin.

The surge in gold price does not affect exhibitors. Jewelry manufacturers said they would switch to use silver, platinum and karat gold to replace gold in design and manufacturing.

Hong Kong International Jewelry Show 2006 is one of the most established jewelry trade fairs in Asia. A record number of 1,970 exhibitors from 41 countries or regions participated at the show. The next Jewelry Show will extend into a five-day event and will be held at Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Center from March 6 to March 10, 2007. Enditem