QATAR’S BUSINESS POWER PRAISED
Gulf Times
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Feb 14 2008
Qatar
CLARITY, colour, weight and cutting are the four factors that influence
the decision of buyers in diamond business, feels Lutwik Chakerdemeon,
a trader representing a Lebanese ornament manufacturer at the Doha
Jewels and Watches exhibition.
Sharing his views on the growing jewels business in the GCC states,
the Lebanese trader, whose Yeprem Jewellery is taking part in the
exhibition for the first time, said few other countries of the region
had the kind of business potential that Qatar has at the moment.
Like in any business, every jewel customer is looking for discounts
for his purchase and this is more discernible in virtually every deal
executed at exhibitions like this.
"However, no one would compromise on the quality of jewels at events
like this even if discounts are given,"~] said Chakerdemeon, whose
father started trading of jewels in 1964 in Beirut.
"Like India, craftsmen from Armenia are in great demand in the diamond
industry and you would come across artisans from the erstwhile Russian
republic everywhere in the region’s countries," said the trader.
The Lebanese businessman feels that in the GCC states, in particular
in Qatar and the UAE, there is no specific season for business.
"Almost throughout the year, GCC nationals make purchases and now the
tendency is to buy ornaments well in advance for daughters’ marriage."
A number of marriages take place at the advent of summer and actually
many parents, especially mothers make purchases here for such weddings,
pointed out Chekerdemeon.
The trader feels that business is booming in Qatar in recent years
and a number of manufacturers are focusing their attention these
days on the country’s ornaments market than ever before. ‘Only when
events like exhibitions are hosted, customer gets opportunities to
know about more products available in the jewel industry,"~] he said.
The trader, who employs more than 50 Armenian designers at his Beirut
firm feels the participation at the Doha event would make his brand
of ornaments popular among the clientele in Qatar.