Nicholas Oppenheimer, chairman of the De Beers Group, will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming 2007 CIBJO congress that will be held March 12-15 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, adjacent to the Congress venue hotel, the Arabella Sheraton Grand Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa.

“We are pleased that Mr. Oppenheimer will be our Congress’ keynote speaker. Over the years, Mr. Oppenheimer has been very outspoken about the absolute need for social and corporate responsibility in the diamond industry in particular and in the jewellery industry at large,” said CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri. “As our Congress is held under the theme ‘Delivering a Responsible, Sustainable and Profitable Global Jewellery Industry,’ I have no doubt that in his address, Mr. Oppenheimer will set the tone for the Congress’ deliberations” Cavalieri added.”

Another key speaker who will address the opening session of the 2007 CIBJO Congress is Eli Izhakoff, chairman of the World Diamond Council. 

“During the past months, we have witnessed once again how effective and extremely important Izhakoff’s leadership has been to the diamond industry,” Cavalieri said. “The organization’s public relations campaign preceding, during and following the release of the movie ‘The Blood diamond,’ the WDC’s response and Izhakoff’s media appearances have been absolutely brilliant.”

JCK