DUSHANBE, 17.03.2025 (NIAT Khovar) – Under the auspices of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, Dushanbe will host the International Jewelry Forum and Exhibition of Tajikistan from March 24 through March 26.

This is a significant large-scale event in the history of independent modern Tajikistan in this area. The Deputy Minister of Industry and New Technologies Aziz Nazar told Khovar correspondent about the goals and formats of the event.

— Could you tell us how many participants have already registered for the International Jewelry Forum in Tajikistan and how many guests will be invited?

— First of all, it is important to note that this event of such a large scale, covering a wide range of issues, is being held for the first time in Dushanbe. The event is organized under the auspices of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and aims to unite artisans, designers, manufacturers, investors, and experts from more than 15 countries around the world. Representatives of government and business structures, as well as well-known companies producing both jewelry and equipment for the jewelry industry, have been invited. At present, over 200 participants have registered, more than 100 of them are foreign representatives, which demonstrates the interest in the event not only within the country but also beyond its borders.

— Which countries and companies will be represented at the forum, and what is the expected geographic scope of participants?

— When organizing the forum, we aimed to create a platform to promote Tajik traditions in jewelry art, exchange experiences, and, of course, strengthen international cooperation. The main participants of the event will be representatives of the public sector involved in the production of equipment for the jewelry industry and jewelry products, as well as representatives of the business and private sectors, including companies that produce precious and semi-precious metals and stones, jewelry, jewelry houses and brands, artisans, jewelry designers, and investors interested in this field and ready to consider their direct participation in the jewelry business. We expect the participation of about 50 local jewelry enterprises, individual artisans, and jewelry designers, as well as more than 200 foreign participants representing jewelry brands from Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, as well as countries from the European Union and the Middle East. Special attention will be given to experts and researchers in the field of jewelry art and collectors. Within the event, plenary sessions and educational sessions are planned, where representatives of educational institutions and cultural organizations, students from the Institute of Fine Arts and Design and other educational institutions training in jewelry specialties, will be able to enhance their knowledge and skills in the practical and theoretical foundations of jewelry art and familiarize themselves with modern trends in the development of the industry on an international scale.

— Could you tell us a little bit about the format of the forum?

— The planned program of the forum is quite diverse and, in our view, will cover all aspects of jewelry art. It includes a plenary session, thematic sessions, a jewelry equipment exhibition, a jewelry product fair, fashion shows in collaboration with jewelry brands, educational sessions, masterclasses, and much more. These formats will undoubtedly address issues related to the introduction of technologies, innovations, and trends in the jewelry industry. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit jewelry clusters in Dushanbe, and foreign guests will be invited to museums and cultural complexes of the country.

— In collaboration with which agencies or organizations will the forum take place?

The International Jewelry Forum and Exhibition of Tajikistan will take place from March 24 to 26 in Dushanbe under the auspices of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. The event is organized by the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Tajikistan in collaboration with the creative association «TZ.» The organizing committee includes other involved government agencies and companies representing the mining and jewelry sectors of Tajikistan.

— What issues will be discussed at the forum?

We aim to facilitate direct contacts between participants in various formats, attract the investment community to cooperate, and strengthen interaction with international partners throughout the global value chain in the jewelry sector through open dialogue. As is well known, the Tajik people have been famous for their jewelry art for thousands of years. Evidence of this can be found in collections of jewelry in leading museums around the world, such as the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, where the ancient «Treasures of Oxus» are kept, the Russian State Hermitage Museum, the Russian Ethnographic Museum in St. Petersburg, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, and others. Moreover, the extraction of precious and semi-precious metals and stones in Tajikistan today constitutes 30 percent of the country’s mining industry, which is one of its priority sectors. I would like to especially emphasize that all these goals stem from the initiatives and tasks set by the Head of State, the Leader of the Nation, respected Emomali Rahmon, within the framework of the declared «Years of Rural Development, Tourism, and Folk Crafts» (2019-2021). Thanks to this, today, jewelry centers have appeared in Dushanbe, other cities, and regional centers, whose products reflect the jewelry traditions of each region, with an emphasis on modern trends. The jewelry industry of the country is also involving a new generation of young designers with fresh creative ideas.

— What exhibition stands and pavilions will be represented at the forum?

Detailed information about the exhibition stands and pavilions presented at the forum and the exhibition «At the Origins of the Treasures of Oxus,» showcasing the achievements of Tajik jewelry art and new technologies in the industry, can be found on the website www.jewelryforum.tj.

— Will there be masterclasses, presentations, or round tables?

— The forum program includes two panel sessions on advanced technologies and equipment used in the production of jewelry and «Proposals for improving legal regulations in the jewelry industry: challenges and opportunities,» as well as four educational sessions, including a masterclass on «Basics of Design in Jewelry Creation» for beginning jewelers and jewelry designers from a world-renowned jewelry brand.

— What opportunities does the forum open for local producers and entrepreneurs?

— Like all international platforms, our forum is primarily aimed at establishing contacts between companies working in mining and jewelry production, strengthening cooperation with international partners throughout the global value chain in the jewelry sector, and exchanging experiences among participants in the use of innovations and new technologies in the jewelry sector. The forum will provide a unique opportunity for participants to enrich their knowledge and experience by becoming familiar with international trends in this field. We have no doubt that this will strengthen the professional potential of local jewelry producers, entrepreneurs, artisans, and young designers.

Lailo TOIRI
Khovar News Agency