Belmont Emeralds and Cruzeiro Mine, participants of Precious Brazil, contribute to discussions on responsible practices at an event in New York

The Initiatives in Art and Culture (IAC) 2024 Gold and Diamond Conference in New York featured Brazilian brands contributing to the discussion on more sustainable mining practices. Belmont Emeralds and Cruzeiro Mine are participants of Precious Brazil, a sector project created by the Brazilian Gems and Jewellery Trade Association (IBGM) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), aimed at promoting Brazilian gemstone and jewelry companies abroad.

Clarissa Maciel, manager of the Precious Brazil Project, attended the event and considered that the Brazilian presence enriched the debate. “The participation of Belmont Emeralds and Cruzeiro Mine, both participants of the Precious Brazil project, was essential to position Brazil as a leader in sustainable mining. Their experiences in environmental responsibility and social impact were considered inspiring and contributed to the discussions, highlighting the importance of innovative and responsible practices in the gemstone and jewelry industry,” commented Maciel.

Belmont Emeralds was represented by Marcelo Ribeiro (CEO) and Cruzeiro Mine by Douglas Neves (CEO). Both participated in the panel “Comparative Approaches to Retaining Greater Value in Producing Countries,” moderated by Brecken Branstrator, editor-in-chief of Gemworld. Other participants included Avi Levy, former president of IGI North America, and Mmetla Masire, CEO of Okavango Diamond Company.

Origin and Provenance

Another panel featuring Brazilian expertise was “Origin, Source, and Provenance.” Adriano Mol, coordinator of the Center for Gem and Jewelry Design Studies at the School of Design at the University of Minas Gerais, participated in the debate on the importance of the origin and provenance of materials in the jewelry industry. The panel was moderated by Rob Bates, news editor of JCK, and also included David Block, CEO of Sarine, Sara Yood, CEO and general counsel of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Mark Hanna, CMO of Richline Group, and Ruby Stocklin-Weinberg, program manager of GemFair at De Beers.

Expanding Horizons Seminar

The “Expanding Horizons” seminar at IAC’s 2024 Gold and Diamond Conference in New York aims to deepen the discussion on how to promote positive changes in the gemstone and jewelry industry, focusing on the economic and social particularities of the Global South.

About ApexBrasil

The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. In order to achieve its goals, ApexBrasil carries out several trade promotion initiatives aimed at promoting Brazilian products and services abroad, such as prospective and trade missions, business rounds, support to the participation of Brazilian companies in major international fairs, visits of foreign buyers and opinion makers to learn about the Brazilian productive structure, among other business platforms that also aim at strengthening the Brazil brand. The Agency also acts in a coordinated way with public and private players to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Brazil with a focus on strategic sectors for the development of the competitiveness of Brazilian companies and the country.

About IBGM

The Brazilian Gems and Jewellery Trade Association is a national, non-profit private entity founded in 1977. Its mission is to represent, integrate, develop, and promote all segments of the gem, jewelry, and fashion jewelry chain. The association works as an advocate for their interests and by promoting knowledge transfer, trust, and appreciation of their products among consumers.

About Precious Brazil

The Industry Sector Project Precious Brazil aims to support and promote Brazilian companies in the Minerals, gemstones, jewelry, and fashion accessories segments that seek to export their products, whether they are beginners, exporters, or already internationalized. Coordinated by IBGM – The Brazilian Gems and Jewellery Trade Association in partnership with ApexBrasil – Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency – the project currently serves approximately 150 companies in the industry.