The two-day World Pearl Forum, organized by the Dubai Pearl Exchange, a subsidiary of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, concluded with industry calls for Dubai to take a leadership role in driving the future collective growth of the global pearl trade.

The event, held Feb. 17-19 under the patronage of Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, united leading pearl industry professionals in Dubai for the first time.

Participants called for action from industry leaders to ensure effective positioning of pearls as a division amongst the jewelry sector through the Dubai Pearl Exchange, according to a statement from show officials. In response, the Dubai Pearl Exchange said it will establish a working committee with the participation of industry leaders from key producing regions to develop a strategic plan that will promote the interests of the global pearl industry.

“It is particularly relevant that at a time of global economic turbulence, the first World Pearl Forum has injected a positive note through a commitment to collaboration on the part of the world’s major producers and industry decision-makers. Dubai’s geographic positioning and DMCC’s commitment to the pearl trade are factors in our decision to spearhead and proactively establish the new international working committee for pearl promotion,” said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DMCC executive chairman (pictured).

In her concluding remarks to the forum, Gaiti Rabbani, executive director, Coloured Stones and Pearls, DMCC (pictured), invited leading pearl producers of South Sea, Tahitian, Golden, Freshwater, and Akoya pearls to be part of the first-ever global focus group for pearls.

“Given Dubai’s neutral position in the pearl industry, DPE is pleased to take on the responsibility of initiating a cohesive working group dedicated to promoting the interests of the global pearl industry,” Rabbani said. “Moving ahead, we look forward to garnering the expertise from the leading pearl producers of the world to create this working committee. Their combined knowledge and long-term experience will go a long way towards directing future growth strategies. With the support of international pearling companies and industry experts, the Dubai Pearl Exchange hopes to coordinate this working committee in the coming months.”

More than 200 people attended the World Pearl Forum, where among other things, they had the opportunity to listen to the presentations of more than 25 international speakers. The event was sponsored by: Dubai World, Rosy Blue, Emirates NBD, Damas, Dubai Convention Bureau, and Pearls of Arabia.

JCK