(PRESS RELEASE) Pramod Kumar Agrawal, current chairman of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), has become the first member of the Indian industry to be elected one of the three vice presidents of CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation. He was nominated by CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri, and the decision was confirmed by the organization’s General Assembly and Board of Directors, meeting in Bahrain, November 18-20, at the 2019 CIBJO Congress.
Mr. Agarwal will serve a two-year term as vice president alongside Roland Naftule of the United States, a former president of both the International Coloured Gemstone Association (ICA) and the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), as well as a former member of the Board of Governors of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA); and Jonathan Kendall of the United Kingdom, president of both the De Beers Group Institute of Diamonds and De Beers Group Industry Services. At the CIBJO Congress, Dr. Cavalieri was also elected for another term as CIBJO president.
“I am delighted that Pramod accepted the nomination and that it was accepted so readily by the CIBJO members and directors,” said Dr. Cavalieri. “Given the primary role that India plays in almost all sectors of the industry, it is absolutely necessary that the country be appropriately represented in the leadership of our confederation. With his acumen and vast experience Pramod is just the right person to the fill the role. I am confident that he will make a significant contribution to the important work we do.”
“I feel it’s a great honor that CIBJO has bestowed upon me,” said Mr. Agarwal. “As the serving chairman of GJEPC, a national body of international stature, I have been involved in a lot of initiatives for the betterment of world gem and jewelry industry. This is an opportunity to take the good work ahead. I thank the CIBJO President, Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, and all the other CIBJO members. Along with them, my efforts will be to bring the change the industry wishes to see.”
Today chairman of GJEPC, Mr. Agarwal has served as a member of the organization’s Committee of Administration many years and was Regional Chairman of GJEPC in the Rajasthan Region before being elected national chairman.
In his private capacity he is chairman of Derewala Industries Limited, one of the most prominent gemstone and jewelry corporation in Jaipur, which is known across the world as the center of India’s colored gemstone industry.
He started his career in the city of Jaipur in silver jewelry in 1986. With humble beginnings, Derewala industries evolved into a multi-faceted vertical company, and today employs 1,500 people in four units, producing and supplying gold jewelry, silver jewelry and fashion jewelry in India and abroad.