CIBJO ’07 Congress appeals the industry to enable ‘Sustainable development in Africa’

CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, opened its 2007 congress in Cape Town, South Africa on March 12, 2006. Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka, The Deputy President, who previously served as South Africa’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, and who was one primary instigators of the Kimberley Process, expressed her delight that Cape Town was selected as the congress venue. “The congress is an important occasion for the jewellery community of South Africa, the continent and the world,” she said.

She also said that South Africa does not want to operate solely as a producer of raw materials for the industry but is also looking at other opportunities.

In his opening address, CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri outlined the theme of the 2007 congress, which concerns the role of the jewellery industry as a responsible and sustainable force. “In many regions of Africa, the jewellery industry is not viewed primarily as an enterprise that produces luxury items, but it is considered a means of employment and support to many millions of people. It also should offer those people the promise of a better future,” he said.

Delivering the keynote address, De Beers Chairman Nicky Oppenheimer, spoke of the responsibility that the jewellery industry has for the people of Africa. “It takes one incident to tarnish the name of the whole industry in the court of public opinion,” he said. “All the good things we do — the enormous contribution of gold, diamonds and jewellery industry makes — could be as nothing in a single moment. Furthermore, it is not just us in the hall today who would suffer, but more importantly the millions of people who depend upon our industry for their livelihoods, to feed and clothe their children.”

World Diamond Council Chairman Eli Izhakoff, who also is CIBJO’s Honorary President, emphasized the industry’s responsibility to society while Buyelwa Sonjika, South Africa’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, called on CIBJO to participate in the development of training programmes for young people in the jewellery industry. The opening day sessions were attended by a number of high-level officials, both from South Africa and abroad. The host of the congress, which will run till March 15, is the Jewellery Council of South Africa.