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| (From top left, clockwise) Gubelin Gem Lab gemmologist at work, weld-free technology for precious metal from Shenzhen Bofook Jewellery Co Ltd, jewellery polishing at Shenzhen Xingguangda Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd, and an advanced machinery at Shenzhen Ganlu Jewellery Co Ltd |
Eight jewelry companies are the finalists of the “Industry Innovation/Sustainability Initiative of the Year” category of the fifth annual JNA Awards.
Conferred by JNA magazine (Jewellery News Asia), the awards event recognizes and celebrates companies and individuals whose passion for excellence, innovation and outstanding business performance has helped shape the growth and development of Asia's jewelry industry.
This year, the JNA Awards has consolidated two categories that are judged against a similar set of criteria. Industry Innovation of the Year and Sustainability Initiative of the Year—both standalone categories in previous years—are now known collectively as Industry Innovation/Sustainability Initiative of the Year. By refining the criteria and streamlining the categories, the JNA Awards has become "more reflective of current industry aspirations" and "maintained the relevancy and rigor of the awards," according to the awards' judging panel, which comprises of: Albert Cheng, advisor to the World Gold Council, Far East; James Courage, former chief executive of Platinum Guild International and former chairman of the Responsible Jewellery Council; Lin Qiang, president and managing director of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange; Nirupa Bhatt, managing director of the Gemological Institute of America in India and the Middle East; and Yasukazu Suwa, chairman of Suwa & Son, Inc.
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| (From top left, clockwise) Employees at Shenzhen Foreway Jewellery Group Co Ltd participating in a blood drive; Wang Chunli, General Manager of Beijing Cai Shi Kou Department Store Co Ltd in Tibet for a charitable cause; environmental-friendly workplace at Shenzhen Y&M Jewelry Co Ltd; and Shenzhen Batar Investment Holding Group Co Ltd team completing a community walkathon |
This category is open to companies that best demonstrate the impact that their innovative, corporate social responsibility or sustainable initiatives have on their respective operations and the industry at large.
The eight finalists in this category are:
* Beijing Cai Shi Kou Department Store Co Ltd
* Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd
* Shenzhen Batar Investment Holding Group Co Ltd
* Shenzhen Bofook Jewellery Co Ltd
* Shenzhen Foreway Jewellery Group Co Ltd
* Shenzhen Ganlu Jewellery Co Ltd
* Shenzhen Xingguangda Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd
* Shenzhen Y&M Jewelry Co Ltd
“Industry innovation and business sustainability are two long-term driving forces in spearheading the growth of our industry,” said Letitia Chow, founder of JNA and director of Business Development—Jewellery Group at UBM Asia. “Over the past decade, the significant growth in the jewelry business in Asia was not only a reflection of the increasing buying power from the middle-class customers, it was also the extra effort put forth by retailers, manufacturers, designers and entrepreneurs in these two areas to enable us to stay relevant and agile to the changes of the external environment.”
The winners of the 2016 JNA Awards will be announced at the JNA Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner, which will be held on September 14, during the second day of the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair at the InterContinental Hong Kong.
The much-anticipated gala dinner is a ticketed event by application only. Interested parties can book their seats now by submitting an online application for on the JNA Awards Website.
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