CIBJO to set up bodies for added-value services to members

At the conclusion of its Congress in Vicenza, Italy, CIBJO has decided to establish a number of bodies that will provide added-value services to members of national associations that are affiliated with the organisation, as well as to its commercial members. The bodies to be set up include a Trade Show Commission, a Security, Insurance and Logistics Working Group, which will work under the umbrella of its Association Executive Networking Commission.

Also, the Board of Directors agreed to reactivate the CIBJO Ethics Commission, chaired by Cecilia Gardner, CIBJO's Legal Counsel and President and CEO of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee in the United States.

CIBJO will also create a Coral Working Group within CIBJO's Sector A for issues specific to coral jewellery manufacturers; set a Strategic Task Force, headed by Israel Diamond Institute Chairman Eli Avidar and a member of CIBJO's President's Council, which will be changed among other things with growing CIBJO's industry membership and strengthening its financial base.

"The addition of these various bodies within CIBJO are of critical importance," explained CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri. "Not only do they expand the tangible benefits that our members are able to offer their members through their association with CIBJO, but they strengthen our ability to tackle both new and developing challenges facing our industry."

The CIBJO Board of Directors also approved a series of amendments to its Blue Books. During the General Assembly Meeting that preceded the board meeting, it was announced that CIBJO has undertaken a project to make its Blue Books and other material produced by the organisation on behalf of the international jewellery industry, such as the Retailers Reference Guide easy to access through smart phones and tablet computers. The General Assembly also approved a resolution supporting the call last week by the World Diamond Council to begin discussions about widening the definition of conflict diamonds in the statutes of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.