GCAL Pledges $50,000 to CIBJO Programmes, to Advance Jewellery Projects in Developing Countries
Milan, Italy (December 14, 2007) – The Gem Certification & Assurance Lab, Inc. (GCAL) of
New York, has pledged a gift of $50,000 to CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation. GCAL is
a subsidiary of Collectors Universe, a US-based provider of services to the collectibles and
diamond and colored gemstone markets.
The pledge was made during a special meeting of CIBJO members, held last month in Geneva,
where CIBJO members and jewellery industry members met under the auspices of the UN
Development Program, and with the encouragement and support of the UN's Economic and
Social Council (ECOSOC), to discuss how to help initiate, advance, coordinate and support
educational projects that will help to get budding, sustainable jewellery industry projects on their
way.
Speaking at the meeting, Michael R. Haynes, CEO of Collectors Universe, said that "there is
evidence that shows the jewelry luxury consumer can provide the economic support on one end
of the channel of distribution so that the other end, the businesses and employees in the
producing and developing nations, can benefit." He supported his argument with numerous
examples of recent research conducted among wealthy consumers in the United States. (Find a
copy of the speech at http://www.gemfacts.com/CIBJOspeech.aspx).
CIBJO president Gaetano Cavalieri said that CIBJO was pleased with the GCAL pledge. "'We
are grateful for the gift and satisfied that companies operating in this industry recognize the
need to sustain and advance the well-being of those people who are part of the lower end of the
production and supply pipeline, to assure that these people can earn a sustainable income and
lead meaningful lives," he stated. "Naturally, we're looking forward to generating further financial
support for CIBJO's work and programs, toward the 2008 CIBJO Congress in Dubai (April 14-16)."
CIBJO is the international jewellery confederation of national trade organizations. CIBJO's purpose is to encourage
harmonization, promote international cooperation in the jewellery industry and to consider issues which concern the
trade worldwide. CIBJO's chief mission is to protect consumer confidence in the industry.
Contact:
Ya'akov Almor
almor@mdirect-business.com
+972-52-352-2685