RJC Holds Meetings With Indian Diamond Industry Members

(IDEX Online News) – The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) completed a key round of engagement with the Indian industry during a weeklong series of outreach sessions, one-on-one meetings with RJC Members, key industry stakeholders and prospective members. 

The information sessions, held in Mumbai and Surat, focused on RJC’s ongoing engagement plans in India, as well as the new 2013 Code of Practices (COP) and how it can assist the Indian industry with its new provenance claims and human rights provisions. Combined, over 130 participants attended.

Presented by RJC’s Interim CEO, Catherine Sproule, and Director – Standards Development, Fiona Solomon, the week provided RJC with valuable insight into how it can further contribute to India’s dynamic manufacturing and jewelry sector via the RJC certification program.

The RJC seeks to enhance local engagement and member support, and India is a top priority region for 2014. RJC returns to India in April with an emphasis on additional training on the new COP and further one-on-one meetings.  Plans are underway to attend the July IIJS trade fair in Mumbai.

“There were key outcomes from the week spent in Mumbai and Surat. RJC has crystallized plans for an India-RJC engagement Forum, building from a key committee that contributed valuable feedback to the development of the new COP. Also, the information sessions on the new COP allowed RJC to listen and respond to viewpoints from this very key market,” said Sproule.

Representatives from RJC Members Rio Tinto, Rosy Blue, D. Navinchandra, Venus Jewel and C. Dinesh & Co. presented at the seminars and talked about their commitment to RJC and the benefits of RJC certification.