A latest international jewelry show has attracted 2,306 exhibitors and 31,333 buyers from around the world, both record levels for the show, organizer Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) said Sunday.

The 25th Hong Kong International Jewelry Show, which the Trade Development Council said was the world's third largest of its kind, was held from March 4 to March 8.

The HKTDC said the number of buyers from emerging markets were growing fast, with a 34 percent surge for Russia and 28 percent for the United Arab Emirates.

Hong Kong, a southern Chinese special administrative region and the world's fourth largest fine jewelry exporter, saw a growth of 17 percent in its jewelry exports in 2007 to 33.8 billion HK dollars (4.3 billion U.S. dollars).

Organizers launched a wide range of activities, including seminars, jewelry parades and networking cocktails to expand the portfolio of the Hong Kong International Jewelry Show and strengthen Hong Kong's status as the world's major jewelry sourcing center.

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council set up seven special zones at the fair and 22 group pavilions for major markets and international organizations.

The 26th Hong Kong International Jewelry Show will run from March 4 to March 9 in 2009 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, the TDC said.

(Xinhua News Agency, March 10, 2008)