Brazil’s economic growth encouraged at 2011 ICA Biennial Congress

Presentations acknowledged growth and efforts for further development
Brazil’s economic growth encouraged at 2011 ICA Biennial Congress

The International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) Biennial Congress slated between 1-4 May 2011, in Rio de Janeiro, explored and celebrated the growth in Brazil’s economy and gem and jewellery sector, to understand its important role in the global gem and jewellery sector. Some Industry and government officials shared the country’s statistics of growth - GDP stands at US$2 trillion (eighth largest economy in the world), sixth largest in purchasing power, fifth largest country in size and endowed with abundant natural resources, nine local productive clusters in seven Brazilian states helping to formalize small mining cooperatives, through programs with SEBRAE (Brazilian Service of Support for Micro and Small Enterprises).

Sales for all gem and jewelry sectors in 2010 totaled US$6.5 billion ($2.8 billion of which was retail), with exports totaling US$2.2 billion, up from US$1.7 billion in 2009 (exporting four times more than it imports). “Brazilian brands are being recognized worldwide for their unique design, sensibility and charisma,” describes Hécliton Santini Henriques, president of the Brazilian Jewellery and Gems Trade Association (IBGM). He sees Brazil’s opportunity between premium-priced couture and lower-cost classic jewelry. Designers like H.Stern and Antonio Bernardo also made presentations of the Brazilian art of jewellery making with Brazilian gemstones, The IBGM has partnered with in partnership with the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, to launch a new marketing campaign promoting Brazil’s edge in jewellery design and creativity at the Couture Show in Las Vegas this June.

The growth has been spearheaded by efforts of IBGM to uplift design sensibilities through competitions, worldwide exhibition exposure, and partnerships with private and public entities. Technical schools like Senac College in Rio offer courses from design and goldsmithing to lapidary and entrepreneurship.

Mining being another key industry sector, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, according to its secretary of geology, mining and mineral processing, Claudio Scliar, has developed a 20-year plan focused on expanding polices and programming to formalize and strengthen small and medium mining companies, enabling them to acquire credit and investments and meeting environmental regulations; building supply chain infrastructure to increase Brazil’s added value on gems produced (developing local cutting); creating and fortifying policies and programs for ethically/environmentally friendly mined gems, especially as Amazon is sought after for greater production.

According to Adriano Campos, investment promotions for Apex, “Brazil's $1.3 trillion economy is bigger than those of India and Russia, and its per-capita income is nearly twice that of China,” he cites. Efforts are being made by bodies like FIRJAN (Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro), working to encourage the industrial sector to promote new investments to Rio, besides other welfare programmes for children and older people. To assist in ongoing efforts, one of ICA’s major Congress sponsors, Lorenzo Jewelry, a gem-intense jewelry manufacturer based in Hong Kong, presented the agency with a generous check for $30,000.

The first ICA Biennial Congress in Brazil was held in Belo Horizonte in 1997.


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