Martin Rapaport will present, “New Realities in the Diamond Industry,” which will address the impact of the global economic crisis on the diamond and jewelry trade at BASELWORLD. 

The talk will focus on how members of the jewelry trade can develop strategic thinking that will enable them to prosper in spite of the extremely difficult market conditions.

“We are not only experiencing an economic crisis, but a move to a new reality. Survival is not about who can cut a better diamond or create a better brand. It is about vision. Those who think strategically and are not afraid to see the future from different perspectives will enjoy unprecedented opportunity and prosperity in the years ahead,” said Martin Rapaport, chairman of the Rapaport Group.

The Rapaport Fair Trade Jewelry Conference will also be held for the first time at BASELWORLD. The conference will provide an opportunity for leading jewelry industry stakeholders to discuss and promote the development of Fair Trade Jewelry initiatives.

Gaetano Cavalieri, president of CIBJO, The World Jewelry Confederation, will speak about sustainable economic development and how CIBJO’s support of the United Nations Global Compact can play an important role in the development of Fair Trade jewelry. Additional speakers will include Andrew Cody, president of the International Colored Gemstone Association, Dr. Michael Hopkins of Geneva University, Cheryl Hicks of the World Business Council of Sustainable Development, Patrick Schein of the Association for Responsible Mining, Clara Hidrón of Oro Verde, and Martin Rapaport. Open panel sessions will also encourage the participation of all attendees.
 
The venue and schedule for the presentation and conference are as follows:
Basel Congress Center – Montreal Hall, Monday March 30
Martin Rapaport Presentations: 8:00-10:00 and 14:00-16:00
Fair Trade Jewelry Conference: 10:30-13:30

The presentations and conference are free and open to all members of the trade. Reservations are not required but seats can be reserved by RSVP to conference@rapaport.com.

JCK