GIA pledges support to Dubai's jewellery industry

'GIA pledges to be a strong partner to Dubai's jewellery industry supporting it with state of the art research and GIA grading reports for diamonds, colour gems and pearls. We will be opening a school in Dubai's new Almas tower in the near future, this will be GIA's first in the region and it is aimed at expanding the knowledge and experience of professionals, jewellers and gem enthusiasts,' said Baker who is one of the keynote speakers at the 5th Dubai City of Gold Conference from April 22-23, 2007, at the Park Hyatt, Dubai

Baker further expressed her confidence in Dubai's status as a world trading centre for the jewellery industry, 'Dubai has a long and proud tradition of gold trading and with so much growth in consumer demand, it is only natural that Dubai, through the astute policies of its government and organisations and its emphasis on transparency and dedication to all international standards, would expand on that tradition to become a world trading centre. Indeed with its fast growing business and tourism, Dubai has also become one of the world's leading retail centers for jewellery.'

Baker is the President of the Gemological Institute of America, Inc (GIA) since November 2006. With an impressive combination of industry experience and education, she envisions a future in which GIA continues its strong commitment to the public including the organisation's global expansion in the areas of research and education.

On April 23, 2007, Baker will speak on the latest developments in the diamond industry at the 5th Dubai City of Gold Conference, an initiative of the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group in association with the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre.

'We have an interesting line up of speakers at this year's Conference which will cover all sectors of the local and international jewellery business. We have received an enthusiastic response from the industry and expect over 300 delegates including CEOs and managers of jewellery companies, bankers and experts in gold, diamond and precious stones trade, 'said Tawhid Abdullah, managing director, Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group.

The speaker line up for the first day of the event include Colin A Griffith, Executive Director, Gold - DMCC ; Alison Burns, Regional Head of Precious Metals, Standard Bank Plc, Dubai; David Lamb, Worldwide Marketing Director, Diamond Trading Company; Nicholas Paspaley, Executive Chairman, Paspaley Pearls Pty Ltd; Puru Saxena, Editor & Publisher of Money Matters; Ernest Blom, President - World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB); Paul Van Eeden, President of Cranberry Capital; Rabie Atie, Manager - Transguard Emirates; John Reid, Head, Global Markets - Rand Refinery Ltd; Kenneth Gassman, Founder & President of Jewellery Industry Research Institute; Peter Meeus, Executive Director Diamonds & Colored Stones - Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), Government of Dubai; Jacques Voorhees, Chairman & Founder of Polygon; Bill Tomlinson, Managing Director - Landsteinar GCC and Paul Walker, Chief Executive Officer - Gold, GFMS Ltd.

Speakers on the second day of the conference are Tawhid Abdullah, Managing Director - Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group (DGJG); Philip Olden, Managing Director-Marketing & Jewellery, World Gold Council; Anan Fakhreddin, Director, Gulf Region - Diamond Trading Company (DTC); Gaetano Cavalieri, President - The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO); Joseph Menzie, CEO - International Color Stone Association (ICA); and Sanjay Kothari, Chairman - Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) - India

Colin A Griffith, Executive Director, Gold - DMCC commented, 'With an impressive line up of speakers and a record number of delegates expected, the Dubai City of Gold Conference has established itself as an international conference highlighting crucial issues facing the industry. The panel discussions and the networking opportunities that follow will help the industry to form a concrete action plan to face industry challenges'.

Transguard and Dubai Customs are key sponsors of the event with the World Gold Council, Diamond Trading Company, HSBC and National Bank of Dubai as support sponsors

Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group expects more additions to the existing speaker line up for the 5th Dubai City of Gold Conference. Special travel packages are being organised for overseas delegates.