The 2018 CIBJO Congress opened yesterday in Colombia with the inaugural session being addressed by a number of industry leaders from across the world, including CIBJO President Dr Gaetano Cavalieri and GJEPC Chairman Pramod Kumar Agrawal, who called for the industry to build stronger and more organised supply chains and promote responsibly sourced jewellery among consumers.

Speaking at the Opening Session, the CIBJO President called on the delegates “to adapt and change to new realities” as “the jewellery and gemstone business is not immune from the impacts of technology and geopolitics, and is being changed by them, often substantially”.

He highlighted the proposal for the Congress to adopt the Responsible Sourcing Guidance for the jewellery and gemstone sectors and establish a CIBJO Responsible Sourcing Committee, as well as the discussions on possible use of new technologies such as Blockchain to track the movement of data along the chain of distribution, in a secure and transparent manner, as being issues of great importance.

“Let me stress, the adoption of the CIBJO Responsible Sourcing Guidance document in 2018 does not for one second imply that that we have not been responsible to date,” he stated. “What it recognises is that in today’s business environment, we need to show that we operate in a structured and verifiably ethical manner. That is reality, and we have to adapt.”

Addressing the Opening Session, GJEPC Chairman Pramod Kumar Agarwal said that the apex body for the gem and jewellery export industry in India has taken up a number of initiatives in the face of various new developments. He cited the example of the International Diamond Monitoring Committee that was set up by the GJEPC last year and asked for CIBJO to give it its full support to the campaign for ensuring that the natural and synthetic diamond pipelines be kept distinct.

Referring to the recent FTC Guidelines, he said that any steps that would “blur the difference between lab grown and natural diamonds” will only create “confusion in the minds of the consumers”. Stressing that GJEPC is not against any particular product or its manufacturers, he urged CIBJO to take up the issue of having a separate HS Code for synthetic diamonds with World Customs Organisation and addressing “the issue of FTC reclassification which is in direct conflict with the ISO Standards and nomenclature”.

Agrawal also called upon CIBJO to initiate promotional programmes for all forms of jewellery so that the category has high recall for consumers across the world and especially in major consuming countries.

Edwin Molina, President of Aprecol, the Colombian Emerald Producers Association said that Colombia has “launched an appellation of origin of our country’s emeralds together with the government” to “demonstrate a responsible sourcing and commitment to communities” and provide “a special stamp showing the origin of the emeralds”.

“This guarantees its credibility and integrity and will help to drive sales throughout international markets,” he pointed out.

Tyler Gillard, who heads the OECD’s Responsible Mineral Supply Chain project described it as a flexible initiative which could be adapted to the needs of specific countries. He stressed, however that “this industry should not live with reputational damage”.

Stephane Fischler, President, World Diamond Council (WDC), noted that while there are many challenges facing the supply chain, CIBJO is leading the way in responsible practises that will help consumers feel comfortable with the jewellery they buy.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), said CIBJO’s Blue Books provide the most authoritative information on all elements of the jewellery supply chain. Criticising the recent FTC Guidelines, he said, “As the United Nations of the jewellery industry, CIBJO should not be held to ransom by the FTC ruling.”

Ernest Blom, President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, said that there had always been close cooperation and excellent relations between the WFDB and CIBJO which helps the jewellery industry globally tackle challenges.

Pic caption: Dignitaries on the dais at the Opening Session of2018 CIBJO Congress

Pic courtesy: CIBJO