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RAPAPORT... Fiera di Vicenza was accredited through CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, to plan and implement a United Nations (UN) endorsed corporate social responsibility program for the jewelry industry. The program intends to align the jewelry sector with the UN's mission of realizing its Millennium Development Goals, which is also a key element in CIBJO's formal relationship with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). "We consider this to be a critical step in advancing the principles of corporate responsibility in the jewelry industry," said Gaetano Cavalieri, the president of CIBJO. "When CIBJO became officially associated with the United Nations seven years ago, our worldwide community committed itself to participating in the economic and social development of the countries in which we have a vested stake. But, to do this, it is essential that we are able to reach and educate industry members across the globe. Fiera di Vicenza, as a leading industry trade show organizer, educator and service provider, has the infrastructure, experience, talent and determination to enable us to get the job done." Fiera di Vicenza's executive director, Corrado Facco, added, "Fiera di Vicenza is honored to be part of the process. We have been strong supporters of CIBJO's program with the United Nations for several years already, and we are happy to be able to upgrade our role. As a service and content provider our mission is to enhance the position of the jewelry industry. Corporate social responsibility is not only the right way to go -- morally and ethically -- but is also correct way from a strategic perspective. Jewelry may be considered a luxury, or non-essential product, but the world should come to know that the jewelry business and the revenue it generates are absolutely essential factors in the wellbeing of millions of ordinary people living in the developing world." CIBJO became the first and only industry organization to receive official consultative status with ECOSOC in 2006. In 2009, CIBJO set up the World Jewellery Confederation Education Foundation (WJCEF), with a goal to establish programs that will educate members of the diamond, gemstone and jewelry industries about the principles of corporate social responsibility and how they may implement these in their businesses. Fiera di Vicenza participated in two corporate social responsibility workshops organized by CIBJO and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, China. In January 2011, Fiera di Vicenza hosted a high-level social responsibility seminar organized by WJCEF at the VICENZAORO trade show and in May 2012, it hosted a WJCEF seminar conducted by UNITAR at the World Jewellery Forum in Vicenza, as well as the 2012 CIBJO Congress and the eighth annual meeting of the World Diamond Council.
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