Italy is a key player in the global jewellery industry, better known for its jewellery manufacturing and exports. What’s more? Italian jewellery machinery and technology has also occupied a leading position all over the world. It is said that about 80 percent of world demand is met by Italian supplies. The Association of Italian Jewellery Machinery Manufacturers and Exporters (AFEMO), a trade organization where its associates represent the entirety of the jewellery manufacturing processes, aims at promoting the Italian culture of leading-edge technology in jewellery industry to the globe. Hong Kong Jewellery is pleased to have Gianluigi Barettoni, president of AFEMO shared the strengths of Italian machinery and technology and AFEMO’s future development, especially the expansion in Asia.
HKJM: Hong Kong Jewellery
GB: Gianluigi Barettoni
HKJM:Italy is a leading country in producing machinery and technology for jewellery industry. What is its strength?
GB: We always believe in our business and want to improve our product quality. To achieve the result, we work together with our clients, listen to their needs for further improvement and respond to them.
HKJM: Nowadays, machinery and equipment keep evolving with technological advancement. What is the latest development?
GB: Laser welding, laser cutting and prototyping machinery are the latest technologies which have a big potential for advancement. With these latest technologies, jewellery manufacturers could design and make their products easily and accurately.
HKJM: What is the export value of Italian machinery and equipment in 2013? Where do they mainly export to?
GB: Our associates’ export value was around 80 million euro and the products are mainly exported to Turkey, Russia, India, Indonesia and China.
HKJM: AFEMO’s associates specialize in different kinds of products. What kinds of products are in great demand for the industry in recent years?
GB: The industry wants all of our machinery but laser-related products are in greater demand. With such kinds of machinery, it is said that more new products could be invented at a lower production cost.
HKJM: Besides Vicenzaoro Winter, T-Gold now appears in different jewellery fairs over the globe, such as Dubai and Mumbai. How do you see the two markets for innovative jewellery making machinery?
GB: We see big possibilities to sell our machinery in these markets. Better still, they demand our technology as well.
HKJM: In 2014, AFEMO will participate at the first time during Hong Kong International Jewellery Show (HKIJS) in the T-Gold International Pavilion. What is your expectation?
GB: At this moment, we are only concentrating on the Hong Kong T-Gold project. AFEMO sees Hong Kong show as a bridge to the China market. We all understand that it is difficult for our associates to do business in China, but it is believed that if we adjust and improve our presence in this market, we could be doing well in the future.
HKJM: China is a major jewellery manufacturing hub with an increasing demand on advanced machinery and technology. How do you see the business opportunities in China?
GB: We see great possibilities there. In the future, we will actively participate more in China to promote our machinery, for example, by setting up regional offices.
HKJM: What is your expectation for 2014?
GB: We hope to maintain our position in the markets. It is not easy, but if we continue to invest in the right projects, I believe we can maintain our leadership.
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