An international brand conference with some of the biggest names of the corporate world as attendees was conducted on January 20, at Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, Mumbai. The minister of state for commerce and industry, Ashwini Kumar, inaugurated the conference which had other eminent guest speakers like Vijay Mallya, chairman, United Breweries Group and Kingfisher Airlines, Mehul Choksi, chairman, FICCI National Gems & Jewellery Committee and the Gitanjali Group and Vasant Mehta, chairman Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council. Sushil Jiwarajka, chairman, FICCI-WRC gave the welcome address. Jiwarajka in his speech emphasized that innovative designs, new markets and new technology would help sustain the industry during the lean times of the recession. It was his belief that the jewellery industry must move up the value chain into product brands and retail operations. Ashwini Kumar, minister of state for commerce and industry, while inaugurating the conference said that “higher standards of living increase the demand for branded products fuelling growth and employment generation. In spite of the global recession one India is flying and the other is looking at it with hope.” %% Vijay Mallya, chairman, United Breweries Group and Kingfisher Airlines, stressed that despite the global meltdown India is still among the top growing economies of the world with 12 million millionaires who can kick-start the demand for high-end luxury, fashion and lifestyle products. Mallya was very optimistic about India’s growing economy. Mehul Choksi, chairman, Gitanjali Group and FICCI jewellery committee, said that “though we have more than 300, 00 jewellery retailers in India we do not have a single jewellery brand of international standards which is known throughout the world. The need of the hour is to establish such brand names to carve out a niche for our gems, jewellery and accessories internationally.” %% The conference which concluded in the evening also deliberated on the Global Perspective of Indian Gems and Jewellery, Prospects for Branded Jewellery, Infrastructure for the growth of the Indian Luxury market and, among other relevant issues, the market for luxury watches, Brands and Brand Ambassadors.