The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has announced that it has resumed its membership in The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) after an absence of seven years.
Founded in 1981, AGTA has more than 1,000 members in the United States and Canada and is considered the leading association in the world for coloured gemstone professionals.
“We are delighted to welcome AGTA back into our ranks, and particularly at this most appropriate juncture,” said Gaetano Cavalieri, CIBJO President.
“AGTA is pleased to rejoin CIBJO,” says John W. Ford Sr., CEO of AGTA. “CIBJO is a vital group devoted to upholding uniform nomenclature and industry standards built on the expertise of its members. These practices reside at the core of AGTA, which is delighted to realign with CIBJO’s well-respected commissions and efforts.”
The decision comes ahead of the 2023 CIBJO Congress, which will take place October 3–5 in Jaipur, India.
“The upcoming CIBJO Congress will of course focus on all sectors and activities in the jewellery, gemstone, and precious metals industries, but given the fact that it is being hosted on one of the world’s most important coloured gemstone centres, there will be an added emphasis on that critically important business community. AGTA’s voice and participation will be essential,” Cavalieri added.
AGTA plans to unveil its Transparent & Traceable Gemstone Supply Chains Research Project at the CIBJO Jaipur Congress to celebrate and cement the reignited partnership. The goal of the project is to identify best practices specific to the colored stone industry and improve transparency and traceability, ethics, environmental sustainability, and human rights within it.
Theodor Lisovoy, Editor in Chief of the European bureau, Rough&Polished
