ICA moves international headquarters to Hong Kong

The International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) has shifted its international headquarters from New York to Hong Kong, with the purpose of being at the heart of the expanding Asian markets. Explaining this shift, ICA President Wilson Yuen said, "Asia in general, and China in particular, is claiming a larger role in international business, and it is imperative that we are based in the heart of the region to enable us to provide a comprehensive service to our membership and to the industry. This is what it is expected of the ICA”. He also noted that ICA is seeing an expansion in its membership in Asia, and the Hong Kong offices will enable it to better serve them.

The new offices are opened in Hong Kong's gems and jewelry manufacturing district and are run by a team of English and Chinese speaking staff, led by Daniel Leung, Executive Assistant to the President. The transition is being overseen by former Executive Director Barbara Wheat as stated by Wilson Yuen.

Following this move, ICA will continue to have a presence from a new location in New York. Wilson noted that while this transition was ‘ not an easy decision to make’ the ICA “could not ignore the trends that are sweeping our industry, and the global economy in general”.

The new Hong Kong offices were opened at a special in-house inauguration ceremony attended by the board of directors of the ICA.