A joint delegation of The World Jewelry Hub (WJH) and Panama Diamond Exchange (PDE) undertook a three-day visit to Colombia with the highlight being the large and well-attended roadshow held on July 7 in Bogota. The delegation was led by Judy Meana, PDE Vice President, and Ali Pastorini, WJH Director of Marketing, and was sponsored by Embassy of the Republic of Panama in Bogotá.

The main event was graced by many including important personalities such as the Ambassador of Panama to Colombia, María Astrid Villa-Real; the Ambassador of Peru to Colombia, Néstor Popolizio; and the Ambassador of Mexico to Colombia, Arnulfo Valdivia. Also present were Oscar Baquero, President of Fedesmeraldas, the National Emerald Federation of Colombia, and Camilo Liévano, President of Circulo Joyero Colombiano, the country's jewellery association.

Traditionally regarded as the source of the world's most sought-after emeralds, Colombia is today Latin America's third largest economy, with a luxury product market that is growing at a rate of about 20 per cent per annum. Sales of high-end luxury products in Colombia exceeded $350 million in 2013.

Among the 18 PDE member companies participating in the Colombia roadshow were AA Diamondz, De Viany Jewelers, GemDiam (KiranGems), Gran Sabana Diamonds, Jesus Yanez, LaForgia, Mogador, MP Diamonds, Niru South America Corp., Panamis Diamonds, Pazpro (Avi Paz Group), PSD Diamonds , Rosy Blue, Schnitzer Diamonds, Shlophili, Superior Diamonds and Yakubov Group Panama.

Pic Caption: Members of the Colombian jewellery trade at the WJH-PDE event in Bogota on July 7