Gold and Jewellery Group to host first major gold and jewellery industry conference

The prestigious event will bring together senior representatives from the Government of Dubai, international and regional industry experts, senior banking officials and major institutions.

The special one-day conference is titled 'City of Gold - A Vision of the Future' and will be held at the Godolphin Ballroom at Emirates Towers Hotel. It is the first major event of its kind to have been organized by the Gold and Jewellery Group that has over 400 members.

Announcing the conference, Gold and Jewellery Group Chairman Mr. Tawhid Abdullah said: 'Today the gold and jewellery industry represents a multi-billion dollar business for Dubai and remains a vital part of the city's economic prosperity and business health.

'Rightly known as the City of Gold we have created this inaugural conference as a platform to both highlight the existing significance of our industry and to lay down a clear vision of how it can develop and continue to grow and prosper in the future.'

Underpinning the event is the determination of the Gold and Jewellery Group Dubai to bring into sharper focus the vital role the industry has in creating wealth and economic prosperity both for Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.

High profile speakers at the Conference will include:

Mr. Mohammed Al Gergawi, Chairman of Dubai Development and Investment Authority

Mr. Anis Al Jallaf, Chairman of the Dubai International Financial Centre

Mr. Tawfique Abdullah, Chairman, Dubai Metals and Commodities Centre

Mr. Ibrahim Ahli, Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing

Mr. Moaz Barakat, Regional Director, World Gold Council

Mr. Roland Lorrie, Chief Executive Officer, International Gemological Institute,

Mr. Filip Van Laeere, Marketing Director, Antwerp Diamond High Council

Mr. Jonathan Chippindale, Director, Gulf and Turkey, De Beers

Delegates to the prestigious one-day event will include members of the Gold and Jewellery Group, business leaders, diplomatic representatives and Government officials who will hear wide-ranging presentations on the development of Dubai, trends in the gold industry, contemporary issues on diamonds and gems and presentations on international financing.

Mr. Tawhid Abdullah added: 'This will be the most comprehensive and far reaching conference of its kind ever held in Dubai about our industry. Our ambition is for this inaugural conference to help enhance the credibility of the gold and jewellery business as a major economic force and future driver for enhancing the prosperity of Dubai.

'Dubai has the densest concentration of jewellery stores in the world and jewellery remains the number one gift item for the millions of visitors who come to our city every year with a staggering 95 per cent of all tourists purchasing gold and jewellery with Dubai the undisputed hub for the Middle East jewellery market.'

On an annual basis, Dubai imports 300 tonnes of gold for retail and wholesale. Much of this is routed through Dubai to other GCC countries, as Dubai has become a regional hub for gold and jewellery trading. The approximate value of this trade is Dhs12 billion annually, most of which takes place in the Gold Souk.

The one-day conference is being supported and sponsored by the World Gold Council, Diamond Trading Council, Standard Bank London, ABN-Amro, International Gemmological Institute, Antwerp Diamond High Council, National Bank of Dubai and Commerzbank/National Bank of Fujairah.

A five-man committee led by former World Gold Council Director Mr. Andre Bisang has undertaken the organization of the conference. Mr Bisang said: 'We believe that this conference offers the perfect balance of speakers from bodies representing every aspect of our ever expanding industry, which represents a key attraction to any visitor and tourist to Dubai.

'The role of the Dubai Government in supporting us remains vital with Dubai Municipality ensuring the quality of the product we offer customers and our colleagues in the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing helping to promote the City of Gold to international audiences.'

The conference will be opened by Gold and Jewellery Group Chairman Mr. Tawhid Abdullah making a keynote address about his vision of the future of the Gold and Jewellery Group and its leadership position for the industry in Dubai today and in the years ahead.