Exemplary results from the first day of CIBJO Congress

Continuing the World Jewellery Forum in May in Vicenza, last week launched the first day of the annual congress of the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO), which was attended by delegations from the national associations of the jewelry industry from around the world, as well as representatives of many multinational corporations involved in the industry. As a result of the congress many important results were achieved influencing the future of jewellery industry, gem and precious metals sectors. A discussions list of acceptable terms, the universal adoption of international industry standards, known as the Blue Books, will be issued for diamond jewelry, colored gemstones, pearls and precious metals guide for consumers.
At the first day of meeting managing director of the Israel Diamond Institute Eli Avidar delivered some personal comments about the future of CIBJO: “The future belongs to all of us, and so does the responsibility to grasp that future. Collectively we have a tremendous opportunity not only to protect what we have, but also to expand, and move the industry forward.
CIBJO needs to expand, to raise the level of its involvement on the international stage. CIBJO needs to reach out to new industry participants, to position itself in such a way that they understand that our confederation provides them a home. They should absorb and adopt our rules and practices, in order to create their own rules and practices, in their own markets and among their own members.
Our relationship with the United Nations and our connections with its associated agencies are unique in our business. There is no other organization in the jewelry, gemstone and diamond business with the same degree of access into the chamber of power and influence. There is no other industry body that is able, as CIBJO is, to have the ear of presidents, prime ministers, cabinet members and high-level government officials around the world.
If CIBJO did not exist, it would have to be invented. We have to think not only about what we have achieved. We have not come close to fulfilling our potential. We need to plan the next step of our mission, we have to work to make even better use of our potential.”
CIBJO Congress serves as the official gathering place for the World Jewellery Confederation’s Assembly of Delegates, and also the venue for the annual meetings CIBJO’s sectoral commissions - Coloured Stone Commission, Diamond Commission, Pearl Commission, Gemological Commission, Precious Metals Commission.
On 19th May Gemological Mini Conference took place.
The CIBJO Congress is also where the programme of World Jewellery Confederation Education Foundation (WJCEF) and the CIBJO’s ongoing cooperation with the United Nations is reported upon.
At the end of the first Congress day of Jewellery Forum in Vicenza, a new cooperation agreement, which will open new horizons for European jewelers, was signed.
The new partnership will encourage exchanges between two extremely active markets in the jewellery and luxury sector. The official DWTC (Dubai World Trade Centre) delegation signed the partnership with president of Fiera Di Vicenza at the end of the first day of CIBJO World Congress.
Fiera Di Vicenza has become a partner of the Dubai World Trade Centre for Europe and Italy, now will act as representative for jewellery, gold, watch-making and connected technology companies in the organization of their participation at the ultra-modern exhibition centre in Dubai, a reference point for the United Arab Emirates market and for the whole of the Middle East.
Today Dubai imports 360 tons of gold each year with commercial value of about $3.3 billion. The United Arab Emirates are the second market in terms of value for Italian jewellery exports, which amount about Euro 670 million, 13% of Italy’s total gold and jewellery exports (according figures in 2011).
According to indications from Dubai Multi-commodities Centre, the demand for diamonds on a world scale should increase by 6% annually until 2020.
Founded in the 2nd Century B.C. in northern Italy, in 1994 Vicenza was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites, largely as a tribute to the work of the 16th architect Andrea Palladio whose building are scattered throughout city and surrounding areas. Vicenza is the third-largest industrial centre in Italy as measured by the value of its exports, and accounts for about one fifth of the country's gold and jewellery output.
The first CIBJO congress was held in Hong Kong in 2005.

Veronica Novoselova, Rough&Polished correspondent in Italy, from Vicenza