CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation’s 2011 Congress is slated between March 14-16, 2011 in Porto, Portugal, at the historical Freixo Palace Hotel. The Congress will be hosted by Associação de Ourivesaria e Relojoaria de Portugal - the Portuguese Jewellery and Watchmaking Association (AORP) - under the auspices of the Commission for Coordination and Regional Development - North Portugal (CCDRN). %% Expressing gratitude towards the hosts, CIBJO's president, Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri said, "Jewellery has played a key role in Porto's history and culture and Portugal's jewellery industry continues to be concentrated in this fascinating city." AORP President Manuel Alcino said he expected the CIBJO congress to help highlight both the Portugal's contemporary jewellery industry as well as its centuries-old heritage of jewellery making. " Furthermore, since the 2011 CIBJO Congress will immediately precede the 2011 Gondomar Jewellery Fair - Ourindústriain Gondomar/Porto, we will be able to provide participants with a close up view of our young and upcoming Portuguese jewellery designers, as well as our established and internationally renowned jewellery manufacturers," he stated. %% The Congress next year will carry forward the traditional CIBJO Congresses proceedings, with representatives of the international jewellery community gathering together. A CIBJO Congress serves as the official forum for CIBJO's various sectoral commissions, and where amendments are discussed for CIBJO’s Blue Books - the organization's definitive directories of international industry standards for diamonds,. coloured stone, pearl, gem labs and precious metals. In recent years, CIBJO Congresses have served as milestones for Corporate Social Responsibility, and as such also includes a report of the programme of World Jewellery Confederation Education Foundation (WJCEF) and the CIBJO's ongoing cooperation with the United Nations. %% CIBJO plans to launch a dedicated website for the 2011 CIBJO Congress in January, to guide participants with further details.