CIBJO to Expand Membership and International Role, Eli Avidar to Chair Strategic Task Force to Plan and Manage Process

VICENZA, Italy, May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Meeting at the CIBJO Congress in Vicenza, Italy, the organisation's Board of Directors has unanimously approved a proposal to establish a Strategic Task Force to grow industry membership in the organisation, broaden its financial base, and expand the range of international diplomatic activities conducted with the United Nations, and other national and international organisations.

The Strategic Task Force will be chaired by Eli Avidar, a member of the CIBJO President's Council and the CEO of the Israel Diamond Institute.

CIBJO President Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri said: "As a seasoned diplomat Eli Avidar will be able to bring to CIBJO his considerable experience and contacts in the international diplomatic arena."

"With this Task Force, CIBJO will now reach out to new industry participants and demonstrate to members and stakeholders that we stand together, united and committed," said Avidar.

"Members of our industry are sometimes faced with major changes in regulations in their own countries. They are required to challenge the authorities, but they need not do so alone. They will be able to rely upon the broad support of the international jewellery community, under the banner of CIBJO," Avidar stated.

Avidar cited CIBJO's unique relationship with the United Nations and associated agencies as providing a platform that should be leveraged to expand its global activism. "There is no other organisation in this business with the same degree of access into the chambers of power and influence," he stated.

Avidar called on CIBJO members to provide names of potential members, both national associations and commercial bodies, who will then be approached by the Strategic Task Force to join CIBJO.

"We need to look ahead, as an organisation that is larger, more diverse and reflective of this great industry. The future belongs to all of us, and so does the responsibility to grasp that future," he said.

With members from more than 40 countries, CIBJO is an international body that represents the interests of national jewellery and gemstone organisations and commercial bodies operating within the jewellery chain of distribution.

The 2012 CIBJO Congress took place between May 17 and 20, and was hosted by the Fiera di Vicenza, Italy's leading jewellery trade show company, in the framework the World Jewellery Forum.

CONTACT: Steve Benson: +972(0)52-280-2322, Communications_1@cibjo.org