World Jewellery Forum unfolds in concurrence with VICENZAORO Spring

The World Jewellery Forum, organised by Fiera di Vicenza unfolded in concurrence with VICENZAORO Spring. This is the first time that a double event of the two annual world congresses of the World Diamond Council (WDC), and CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation have been held together in Italy.

The opening ceremony saw a gathering of eminent personalities including - President of Fiera di Vicenza, Roberto Ditri, the President of the WDC, Eli Izhakoff and the President of CIBJO, Gaetano Cavalieri. Also, Mayor of Vicenza, Achille Variati and the Veneto Region’s Councillor for Tourism, Marino Finozzi, presided over the ceremonies.

“The 14th of May 2012 is a day that will go down in the history of Fiera di Vicenza and our city. It is, in fact, the first time that Italy has hosted the annual meetings of these prominent international jewellery associations and it is a great honour for us,” said the Roberto Ditri, the President of Fiera di Vicenza.

There were key issues discussed on the day including the application of new ways to strengthen the Kimberley Process, the international protocol which, with its traceability certification system, has obtained significant results in the fight against conflict diamonds and the illegal trafficking of precious stones, and programmes, sponsored by the United Nations in collaboration with the two associations, to develop Corporate Social Responsibility in the jewellery production line.

“The WDC has achieved significant results in the last few years in the battle against conflict diamonds. By hosting the congress here, Fiera di Vicenza confirms the importance of working together to spread awareness on such topics as how to apply the principles of Social Corporate Responsibility. Expressing satisfaction with the achievements based on the joint efforts of the United Nations, non-governmental organisations and associations such as the World Diamond Council, President Eli Izhakoff noted that there is still a lot more to be done.

The South African Minister for Natural and Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu, and the United States Ambassador, Gillian Milovanovic, current President of the Kimberley Process, also participated in the WDC Plenary Session. Minister Shabangu underlined how the partnership between governments, industry and civil societies, aided by the work of the Kimberley Process, now means that more than 99% of all diamonds along any value chain are legitimate and able to be traced from their origin. In other words, “conflict free.”