Gaetano Cavalieri, the President of CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, has had a personal audience with Pope Francis at Vatican City in Rome. It took place on May 20, following a three-day conference of the Centesimus Annus pro Pontifice Foundation, where business, academic and political leaders discussed ethical challenges and strategies, and at which Dr. Cavalieri was one of the speakers.

The 2017 CIBJO Congress will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, November 5-7, 2017, with pre-congress meetings beginning on November 2. The World Ruby Forum, which is being organised in conjunction with the congress, will take place November 4. The main venue for the CIBJO Congress and the official congress hotel will be the Shangri-La Bangkok.