CIBJO, Peruvian government and industry associations agree to establish $6.2 million sustainable jewellery training programme

CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, has reached a multilateral cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Trade and Tourism of the Republic of Peru (Mincetur). The agreement involves the establishment of a U.S. $6.2 million training programme, designed to improve the skills and efficiencies of 12,000 Peruvian jewellery artisans, as a first step to building a sustainable, responsible and ethical jewellery industry in Peru.

Also party to the agreement are the Peruvian Exporters' Association (Adex) and the National Service of Occupational Training in Industry (Senati). It was finalised on July 3 in Lima, the Peruvian capital.

Called "Fortalecimiento de Capacidades de la Joyería Artesanal en el marco de la Responsabilidad Social y Comercio Justo" (Building the Capacity of the Jewellery Crafts in the context of Social Responsibility and Fair Trade), the programme will be implemented over a period of at least three years in five regions of Peru, namely Arequipa, Cajamarca, Cusco, Lima and Piura. CIBJO, together with its CSR educational arm, the World Jewellery Confederation Education Foundation (WJCEF), will be responsible for coordinating the delivery of tools and services from around the world to assist the programme in meeting its goals.

"This is a very exciting challenge and opportunity, not only for CIBJO, but for all members of the jewellery sector around the world," said CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri. "As a leading producer of both gold and silver, Peru is keen to expand its jewellery manufacturing sector, not only to improve the added value that it receives from its natural resources, but also to provide its citizens with new sustainable economic opportunities. We hope to involve as many of our members as possible from around the world, enabling the Peruvian industry to benefit from our collective knowledge and experience, and so demonstrate the commitment of our industry to proactive CSR and helping meet the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals."