Presidents of major industry trade body create The Presidents Forum

Presidents of the CIBJO the World Jewellery Confederation, World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) and World Diamond Council (WDC) met in Antwerp and have agreed to set up ‘The Presidents Forum’, as a joint consultative committee to discuss and devise coordinated strategies and policies for the industry on important issues of common interest. Members of the Forum will be the presidents of each organisation.

The inaugural meeting held against the backdrop of the ongoing 36th World Diamond Congress was hosted by Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, President of CIBJO, and included Ernest Blom, President of WFDB; Maxim Shkadov, President of IDMA; and Edward Asscher, President of the World Diamond Council (WDC). Eli Izhakoff, Hon. Life President of CIBJO, WFDB and WDC chaired the meeting.

In the first statement of The Presidents Forum, its members noted that, “As the elected presidents of international organisations, each of which counts among its members the key national organisations and leading commercial bodies in their respective fields, we collectively represent the rank and file of the diamond, gemstone and jewellery industry worldwide." The statement also explained that the objective of The Presidents Forum ‘is to reflect the interests of all participants and stakeholders in the industry through discussion and coordination.” The first agenda outlined by the presidents would is to engage with the Precious Stones Multi-Stakeholder Working Group and devise acceptable due diligence guidelines to defend the integrity of the supply chain, for which the President of the WDC will be consulted,’ the statement noted.