ARTIFICIAL Intelligence (AI) is set to steal the show at the Malaysia Gold & Jewellery Trade Exhibition (MGJE) 2026 in Penang, introducing tools that bridge the gap between a customer’s imagination and a finished design.
Federation of Goldsmiths & Jewellers Associations of Malaysia president Datuk Chiah Hock Yew said new AI software would allow retailers to translate customer ideas into digital designs in just five to 10 minutes.
“Customers share their vision, and retailers bring it to life instantly,” he told a press conference at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre.
This tech-forward approach speeds up the creative process and it reshapes the entire supply chain by linking retailers directly to manufacturers.
“This is a new supply chain. We are helping retailers improve how they do business,” said Chiah.
For those looking to master this digital shift, the exhibition will host a dedicated AI-focused lecture on May 9.
The exhibition, running from May 8 to 10 at the convention centre in Bayan Lepas, arrives at a pivotal moment for the industry.
State tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said while geopolitical tensions had disrupted regional logistics, Malaysia was in a prime position to pivot.
“This is a critical moment for Malaysia’s gold industry to reassess and seize new opportunities,” Wong said.
He highlighted Penang’s growing strength as a regional meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) hub, bolstered by expanded flight connectivity to China, India, and the Middle East via Doha.
He added that MGJE had evolved into a global trade platform, attracting exhibitors and buyers from over 30 countries.
“It represents a comprehensive ecosystem, covering the entire supply chain from raw materials and machinery to finished jewellery and packaging innovations,” he said.
Beyond the glitz of the display cases, MGJE 2026 is introducing a permanent digital home for the industry – the “Gold Pavilion.”
This new South-East Asian trading platform is designed to keep buyers and suppliers connected year-round.
Organised by the Province Wellesley Gold & Silver Ornament Merchants Association, MGJE 2026 is supported by the Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB), Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation.
Also present were PCEB chief executive officer Ashwin Gunasekeran, Malaysia Gold & Jewellery Trade Exhibition 2026 organising chairman and Province Wellesley Gold and Silver Ornament Merchants Association adviser Law Chin Hooi and Province Wellesley Gold & Silver Ornament Merchants Association president Poon Wai Kit.
