Dubai to host 2008 World Jewellery Confederation Congress

This is the first time that this prestigious global gathering of jewellery trade organisations and professionals has been held in the Middle East. The choice of Dubai for this three-day event, which will be held under the patronage of DMCC, comes in recognition of the emirate's increasingly central role on the global jewellery stage.

Among those expected to attend this high-profile meeting are leading members of the international jewellery trade, as well as government and United Nations representatives, all of whom will convene in Dubai to address the global outlook for a broad range of industry issues. DMCC will host the conference and a wide variety of related activities over the course of the three days.

An international confederation of national jewellery trade organisations, CIBJO was founded in 1926 as a purely European organisation, becoming genuinely global in 1961. Today, members hail from 40 countries across the globe. CIBJO's purpose is to encourage harmonisation, promote international cooperation and consider issues that concern the trade worldwide. Foremost among these is to protect consumer confidence in the industry.

"Strategically located at a crossroads between Western Europe and East Asia, Dubai is an increasingly ambitious participant in the global jewellery trade," said Dr. David Rutledge, Chief Executive Officer, DMCC. "As host of one of the premier industry events, we will cement our reputation for excellence and increase awareness of the emirate's attractiveness - among jewellery trade organisations and, indeed, the global business community. We are extremely pleased to host this annual gathering in cooperation with CIBJO, The World Jewellery Confederation."

"DMCC continues to launch innovative initiatives designed to meet the evolving needs of the jewellery trade, both here in the region and across the world," said Gaiti Rabbani, Executive Director, Coloured Stones and Pearls division, DMCC. "Such commodity-specific trading platforms include the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange, the Dubai Diamond Exchange, the Dubai Pearl Exchange and the Dubai Gems Club.

"The choice of Dubai as host city for the 2008 Congress of the World Jewellery Confederation comes in recognition of the extraordinary achievements of DMCC in this regard - and, of course, the prominence Dubai and the wider region continues to enjoy in the global jewellery industry. Hosting this landmark event is a natural next step in the evolution of the emirate, and DMCC, in our ongoing ascension to global stature," said Rabbani.

"The CIBJO Congress is the leading event of its kind in the world, and we are delighted to hold next year's meeting in Dubai, which is rapidly emerging as an international capital for the jewellery trade," said Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, President, CIBJO. "Together with DMCC, we will ensure that the event is a great success, generating even further attention to the important role Dubai plays in the global jewellery trade."

Over the past 14 years, CIBJO Congresses have been held in a host of global jewellery centres, including Basel, Switzerland, in 1991 and 1994; London, England, in 1992; Vicenza, Italy, in 1993 and 1998; Athens, Greece, in 1995; Vienna, Austria, in 1996; Las Vegas, USA, in 1997; Bern, Switzerland, in 1999; Kobe, Japan, in 2000; Paris, France, in 2001; Munich, Germany, in 2002; Basel in 2003, Bangkok, Thailand, in 2004; Hong Kong in 2005; Vancouver, Canada, in 2006; and Cape Town, South Africa, in 2007.