Thai Gem & Jewelry Traders AssociationHistory of the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association
The Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association was founded on 28th December 1976 by founder Mr. KittiKitrangsrivibul together with Mr. Anan Chawala, Mr. Liang Saetang, Mr. PornsakSriorathaikul, Mr. Ho, Mr. VichitDurangotpitaya and Mr. BoonyongAssarasakorn. The signatories of the first license registration to establish the association were Mr. Anan Chawala, Mr. KittiKitrangsribivul, Mr. SanguanRiangsrivilai, Mr. Abe Sri-uthai, Mr. Pol Chalermkiet, Mr. SoamKankaew, Mr. BanjongRasamipaisan and Mr. Liang Saetang. The name registered at that time was the “The Trade Association of Thai Gem Exporters.” The Deputy Prime Minister at that time, H.E. Mr. SunthornHongladarom, chaired the opening ceremony in 1978. Subsequently, on 26th February 1996, the association registered a new name to become the “Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association.”
The first address and office of the association during the initial period was the home of Mr. Anan Chawala. The house was located near the Charoenpol Intersection on Rama I Road. Later on in 1987, the association relocated several times, first to the Wall Street Tower and then to the Chan Issara Tower I on Rama IV Road for a period of time. During this period the work of the association increased significantly and it needed a much larger base of operations. The association moved its headquarters once again in 2001 and for the final time to its current address and location on the 52nd Floor of the Jewelry Trade Center (JTC) Tower on Silom Road.
List of Presidents of the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association
| 1. | Mr. KittiKitrangsrivibul, | President from 1976 - 1980 |
| 2. | Mr. Anan Chawala, | President from 1980 - 1986 |
| 3. | Mr. PornsitSriorathaikul, | President from 1987 - 1993 |
| 4. | Mr. BoonyongAssarasakorn, | President from 1993 - 1997 |
| 5. | Mr. KomsanOpassathaworn, | President from 1997 - 1999 |
| 6. | Dr. SuneeSriorathaikul, | President from 1999 - 2003 |
| 7. | Mr. NarongThammavoranukup, | President from 2003 - 2005 |
| 8. | Mr. PornchaiCheunchomlada, | President from 2005 - 2007 |
| 9. | Mr. VichaiAssarasakorn, | President from 2007 - 2011 |
| 10. | Mr. Somchai Phornchindarak, | President from 2011 - present |
The membership of the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association currently stands at 1,520 corporate members (tallied on 22nd July 2015).
The Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association has continuously worked to achieve its objective, which is to promote and develop the Thai gem and jewelry industry to become an important center or hub for trade and manufacturing of gems and jewelry in the world. Today, the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association is recognized and embraced by both the government and private sectors of Thailand and several countries as the primary gems and jewelry trade association in the Kingdom that operates at an international standard. In 2006, the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association was selected by the Department of Trade Development of the Thai Ministry of Commerce to receive the Outstanding Association of the Year 2006 Award. Furthermore, the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association has assembled various associations within the Thai gem and jewelry industry as well as precious metals to band together and form the Gems, Jewelry and Precious Metal Confederation of Thailand. This is to create unity within the Thai gems and jewelry industry to strengthen each association by presenting a united front. The mission of the Gems, Jewelry and Precious Metal Confederation of Thailand is to solve various problems faced by the industry and present various solutions to the government administration to adopt and enforce as national policies.
