CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri has participated as a guest of honour at the 2013 Yerevan Jewellery Show in Armenia, and during his visit addressed a conference that looked at the current prospects and challenges for jewellery production in the country.

The Yerevan Jewellery Show, which took place October 28-30 in the Armenian capital, is being developed by the Armenian Jewellery Association (AJA) as a key platform for the country’s growing jewellery sector, which is drawing on the support and experience of members of the Armenian diaspora, who are active in jewellery centres around the world. The show featured 125 local and international exhibitors, including CIBJO, and it drew 140 foreign buyers.

The trade fair and the industry enjoy strong government support, with the show being opened by the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, who was joined by country’s first lady.  The opening ceremony took place immediately following Jeweller’s National Day, which is a holiday established by a decree of the Government of Armenia.

A keynote event at the show was a conference focusing on the challenges and prospects for jewellery production in Armenia. During the conference, which also was addressed by the CIBJO President, AJA’s Chairman Gagik Gevorkian provided details on a project to establish a jewellery Free Economic Zone in Yerevan, which will serve the regional markets both in Europe and Asia.

“Armenia is terrific example of how cooperation and dedication can transform the jewellery sector into a national asset, which will contribute substantially to the health of the economy, creating revenues, jobs and social benefits,” said Dr. Cavalieri. “Jewellery manufacturing has been an integral part of the Armenian culture and identity for centuries, and today with the support of government and the involvement of Armenian peoples from around the world it, the entire country will reap its benefit.

Photo Caption: CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri (far right) on the podium during the jewellery conference in Yerevan. He is joined (from left) by Pierre Akkelian of Canada, head of the AJA Foundation; Hranush Hakobyan, Minister of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia; and Gagik Gevorkian, Chairman of the Armenian Jewellers Association.

Leading UK jewellery industry event International Jewellery London has been accepted as a commercial member of CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, and as such becomes the first jewellery show from the United Kingdom to gain such representation in the international body.

CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri expressed his happiness at being able to welcome Reed Exhibitions’ IJL into the organisation, noting that as an important trade show in a prominent jewellery market it can play a key role in supporting the industry both in Britain and internationally.

“I am delighted to welcome IJL into our fold. CIBJO recognises trade shows as the primary gathering places for our sector, providing not only opportunities for promoting business, but also forums at which we can discuss and address common issues and challenges,” Dr. Cavalieri said. “IJL has long served to bring together members of the trade from across the UK, Europe and internationally, and in this respect it is ideally positioned to advance CIBJO programmes relating to harmonised industry standards, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and consumer confidence.”

Said IJL Event Director Sam Willoughby: “IJL already has very strong industry links and is seen as a show where partnerships are forged, announcements made and business progressed. It makes absolute sense for IJL to become a member of CIBJO, with its history and focus on supporting individuals and companies earning their livelihoods from jewellery, gemstones and precious metals.

“IJL will be able to reflect the views of the UK and contribute to developing (CSR) throughout the global jewellery industry. We fully support the work that CIBJO undertakes for the future security and development of the industry on an international scale.”

CIBJO already has links with IJL and, just last month at the UK’s flagship trade show signed a memorandum of understanding with the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC).

Gaetano Cavalieri, joined government officials, senior industry representatives and leading gemmologists from around the world at a conference in Paris last week, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of l’Association Française de Gemmologie (AFG), the French Gemmological Association.

In an address to the gathering, Dr, Cavalieri credited AFG and the gemmologial community of enhancing the confidence of consumers in jewellery and the jewellery industry, through their efforts to advance the principles of full transparency and disclosure.

“Consumer confidence is the platform on which we stand. If it becomes fragile and collapses, so will we,” he stated, wishing AFG, its president, Didier Giard, and its Council of Administration, “ many more years of serving as one of the buttresses of the foundation on which we all stand.”

“Your ability to keep abreast of developments in the marketplace and the minefields, to conduct proper and disciplined scientific research, to publish and disseminate what you have learned, and then to serve the industry through gem identification and grading is absolutely essential,” Dr. Cavalieri stated. “We are dependent upon your professional integrity, the quality of your research and the way in which you organise and operate your laboratories. You hold the reputation of our business in the palms of your hands. It is a privilege and also a great responsibility.”

The CIBJO President called on the participants at the participants and the conference to contribute to the review and maintenance of the CIBJO Blue Books, which he described as “the most universally recognised and accepted set of jewellery and gemstone standards in the world.”

PHOTO CAPTION (ABOVE): CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri addressing the 50th anniversary gemmological conference of l’Association Française de Gemmologie.

PHOTO CAPTION (CENTRE): CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri (left) looks on, as AFG President Didier Giard addresses the gathering.

PHOTO CAPTION (BELOW): Participants at the gemmological conference, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the l’Association Française de Gemmologie, in Paris.