The 2008 Congress of the World Jewellery Confederation is being held for the first time in the Middle East. The three-day conference, hosted by Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, opened Tuesday in Dubai and is being attended by more than 200 professionals professionals from jewelry trade organizations.

The annual congress attempts to initiate a dialogue on the challenges facing the jewelry industry, trends in corporate social responsibility, and best practices across the value chain of jewellery trade. 

This year’s event is themed around the United Nations Millenium Development Goals, an eight-point action plan towards sustainable humanitarian development. This also covers issues specific to environmental sustainability and protection of labor rights in the context of the jewellery industry.

“We are extremely pleased to host this annual gathering in cooperation with CIBJO,” said Ahmed bin Sulayem, executive chairman, DMCC. “Dubai has established itself as a prominent international centre for precious metals and jewellery trade. The Middle East is the world’s third largest consumer of diamond jewelry and Dubai registers the highest per capita gold purchase; clearly, this region is a lucrative market for the jewellery industry. We believe that through a high calibre event such as CIBJO, global industry players will benefit from the immense trade opportunities that Dubai and the wider region presents.”

Gaetano Cavalieri, President, CIBJO, added: “We are extremely pleased to partner with DMCC to hold this congress in Dubai, which is located at the heart of the jewellery trade in the Middle East. This year’s congress is covering pertinent industry issues to encourage harmonisation, promote international cooperation and protect consumer confidence in the jewellery industry.”

Other eminent speakers at the congress included Hanifa Mezoui of United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs; Cecile Molinier, director, United Nations Development Programme; Francois Loriot, vice president, International Association of United Nations MDG Trainers, and Michael Hopkins, managing director, MHCi International Ltd., professor of Corporate Responsibility and Business Performance at Middlesex University, London.

Left to Right: Moaz Barakat, managing director for the Middle East, Turkey and Pakistan, World Golf Council; 
Ernie Blom, president, World Federation of Diamond Bourses; Ahmed bin Sulayem, executive chairman, DMCC; 
Gaetano Cavalieri, president, CIBJO; H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz, undersecretary, UAE Ministry of Economy; 
Eli Izhakoff. chairman & CEO, World Diamond Council; and Cecile Molinier, director, United Nations 
Development Programme at the opening session of World Jewellery Confederation Congress 2008.

JCK