The first ever International Emerald Symposium was inaugurated in Bogota, Colombia on October 13 with addresses by Dr María Isabel Ulloa, Colombia's Vice Minister of Mines and Dr Sixtus Chileshe Mulenga of Musamu Resources Ltd on behalf of Dr. Christopher B, Yaluma, Zambia's Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development.

The symposium, which will conclude on October 15,is being attended by over 300 delegates including emerald experts, representatives of governments and the private sector from Colombia and other important centres of the emerald trade across the globe. The event is organized by Fedesmeraldas, the Colombian Emerald Federation, and supported by all the country's emerald-related bodies and the Ministry of Mines and Energy.

This is the first time that producer countries had come together at a high-level international gathering to address issues relating to the emerald business. Challenges and opportunities faced by the emerald industry including resource management, manufacturing, treatments, certification, nomenclature, technology, consumer education and branding, are some of the key issues that will be discussed.

It is expected that the symposium will be an important step towards a harmonization of the global emerald industry.

Pic Caption: Dr Isabel Ulloa addressing the opening session