Among them were head of the State Assay Office of Russia A. Perevedentsev, president of the Jewellers Guild of Russia A. Rybakov, vice-presedent of ALROSA S. Ulin, vice-president of the Jewellers Guild of Russia I. Danilov, general director of Kostromskoy Yuvelirny Zavod V. Sorokin, general director of Yuveliry Urala Yu. Byrdin, general director of Moscow plant Spetssplav A. Ivanuk, director of Russkaya Yuvelirnaya Manufactura Karat I. Kevchenkov, Adamas spokesman A. Galagan and spokesman for Russian Jewellery Group K. Lukyanov. Invited as honor guest was president of CIBJO Jose Hess who congratulated Russia on her first participation in the show on behalf of the association.

The speakers expressed their gratitude to the show organizers for the privilege to take part in the number one event of jewellery world - the World Watch, Clock and Jewellery Show Basel 2000. In short, all the speakers gave a complete survey of their businesses and demonstrated that Russian jewellery art has much to offer the world market.

This was successfully indicated by the photo galleries of Basel 2000 featured at several Web sites of information agencies and that of the show organizers www.baselshow.com. The intricate work of art made by the Krasnoe Selo masters - the Phoenix, happiness bird - was first presented at the Moscow International Show-Fair Jeweller-99 and was awarded a prize " Keeping the National Traditions". Now the piece was commended by foreign partners. However, Russian television thought better than paying attention to the Russian stand: no mention was made of it by the channels (ORT and NTV) reporting the show events. We hope that the lack of information will be compensated in the national jewellery press and at the site of Russian Jewellery Network. Below is the report of Mr. Konstantin Lukyanov made at Russia press conference in Basel:

The report of Mr. K. Lukyanov

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen! It is my pleasure to welcome you at Russian press conference. For the very first time Russia is privileged to take part in the Show and this is a very significant step in the development of Russian jewellery art. We have come not only to share our achievements, to present Russian jewellery culture but also to learn and exchange experience with the largest and most renowned leaders of the world jewellery market. Other purposes, of course, include making new friends and partners, establishing long-term mutually beneficial contacts.

Moscow Jewellery Group is working in several directions of jewellery industry:

1. wholesale trade of jewellery;
2. retail trade;
3. import and export operations with precious metal and stone jewellery;
4. jewellery exhibitions;
5. information and technical support of jewellery companies.

While the first four points are more or less clear, the last (information and technical support of jewellery companies) is by far the most mysterious and unusual for a jewellery company.

Our main focus is on design of software for wholesale and retail jewellery trade. Currently under development is a programme for production accounting. Other trends include promotion and information support of jewellery companies in the Internet. Moscow Jewellery Group supports and supervises development of two major Russian servers - "Russian Jewellery Network" and "Russian Market of Precious Metals and Precious Gems". Today these are the largest and most visited servers of Russian jewellery Internet. The server is being promoted in cooperation with the world's largest information agencies (such as Interfax) and servers (Gemkey).

We have already carried on negotiations on information partnership with Europa Star, National Jeweller, Professional Jeweller and JCK magazine. The server is bilingual and therefore is of use to both Russian and foreign associates. Posted at the server are daily news on Russian jewellery industry and weekly analytical surveys of Russian jewellery market. Our primary interest is in presenting world jewellery events to Russian users and Russian events to foreign users. We are open for any kind of cooperation in the field.

On the server you can find the leading Russian jewellery editions, information on jewellery associations and organizations as well as over 60 thousand companies all over the world and among them - over 1.5 thousand Russian enterprises. And of course, presented at the server are the state institutions (namely, the State Assay Office of Russia).

One of the major sections of the server is of course the Trading Centre. The Internet is an ideal environment for business contacts for both the final buyer and wholesale trader. Monthly return of foreign companies engaged in e-commerce amounts to millions of dollars. This is an efficient and one of the most promising trading techniques - you do not spend funds on building and maintaining of an office and personnel. Your shop is in session 24 hours a day and your customers call from all over the world. Considering today's growth rates of Internet users, tomorrow Internet jewellery shops will become a convenient substitute for jewellery salons.

I hope the Show will become an important step in the development of mutually beneficial international cooperation in many areas, among them - computer technologies.

Thank you for your kind attention.