GJEPC’s India Diamond Week Comes to a Close in Mumbai

The second annual India Diamond Week, presented by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), came to a close last week after its October 23–25 run.

Featuring 120 international buyers hailing from 29 countries, the event sought to promote India’s diamond industry on a global scale, in order to improve its trade relations with high-potential markets.

“The second edition of India Diamond Week has been organized in a much bigger way, with increased participation of diamond manufacturers and buyers from across the world,” said GJEPC chairman Pramod Kumar Agrawal in a press release. “Proving that India is a preferred sourcing destination to the world, focused Buyer Seller Meets further promote business and strengthen ties between India trade and international buyers.”

The event also sought to highlight India’s diamond cutting and polishing capabilities, while maintaining transparency across operations. My KYC Bank, a portal created by GJEPC to enhance self-regulation, allows industry participants to update their product information and documents and share them with their trading partners in one place.

In addition, GJEPC is reportedly working closely with the chair of the Kimberley Process, India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the government of India to implement and oversee the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in India. The council is also playing a role in global diamond advertising and contributed $2 million to the Diamond Producers Association’s Global Promotion Fund.

GJEPC is also in the process of building gemological labs for the purpose of diamond testing, to ensure their status as “natural, well-crafted, and ethically sourced.”

For more information, visit gjepc.org.

Jewelers of America to Host 1st Annual Convention

Jewelers of America (JA) announced that it will hold its first-ever annual Jewelers of America National Convention, an event focused on education and open to jewelry professionals. The convention will be held July 28–29, 2019, during New York City Jewelry Week.

The event is set to feature expert presentations and discussions on issues shaping the industry, calling upon JA’s 8,000-plus network of jewelry retailers and suppliers. As a forum for discussion, the convention aims to provide its attendees with insight and solutions to their current challenges.

“Successful businesses must continue to learn and evolve—it’s vital for the evolution of our industry and the health of our member companies,” said JA president and CEO, David J. Bonaparte, in a press release. “We are thrilled to launch our first annual convention as a destination for jewelry professionals to come together, network, learn, and take their learnings back to better their businesses.”

A number of networking events—including a Jewelers of America member meetup and cocktail party—will provide opportunities to connect and unwind by all who attend. Alongside the convention, New York will be home to the Women’s Jewelry Association’s Awards for Excellence Gala, as well as the American Gem Society’s Circle of Distinction Dinner.

For more information about the convention and to sign up for updates, visit jewelers.org/convention.

Top, left to right: Colin Shah, vice chairman, GJEPC; Pramod Kumar Agrawal, chairman, GJEPC; Senthil Nathan, deputy secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry; and Dilip Shah, covener, international exhibitions, GJEPC

Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine