The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) Congress 2019 kicked off in Manama, Bahrain on Monday. The conference has been organised by the Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (DANAT).

CIBJO 2019 kicked off in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Jawad bin Salim Al Arayadh, a number of invitees and international experts in the jewellery industry. His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Board Chairman of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, inaugurated the conference.

“The Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa expressed heartfelt thanks and gratitude to HRH the Premier for patronising the three-day event which reflects care for the jewellery and pearling industry in Bahrain. He described the event as an official platform for CIBJO delegations and the confederation’s subsidiary committees to meet and discuss jewellery-related issues. He stressed the importance of the conference in developing the pearling and gemstones industry in conjunction with Jewellery Arabia 2019 which will kick off tomorrow under the aegis of HRH the Premier,” said a statement from the country’s state media.

The event is taking place during the Jewellery Arabia consumer trade show at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre.

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During the three-day event, delegates discuss amendments which can be introduced to the organisation’s definitive directories of international industry standards for diamonds, coloured stones, pearls, gem labs, precious metals, coral and responsible sourcing, known as the Blue Books. It represents the interests of all individuals, organisations and companies earning their livelihoods from jewellery, gemstones and precious metals, covering the entire industry from mine to marketplace in the various production, manufacturing, trading and retail centres.

The Deputy Prime Minister underscored Bahrain’s status as a pioneering centre in the pearling and gemstones field, pointing out the role of DANAT in reviving and promoting the pearling industry.