The International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Panyu Branch to jointly host the 2009 ICA Congress in Panyu, located in Guangzhou. The agreement was signed on March 10th in Beijing. The formalities were undertaken by Mr. Li Zhi-Wei, President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Panyu Branch and Mr. Prida Tiasuwan, ICA Vice-President, in the presence of Mr. Sun Feng Min, Secretary-General of the Gems & Jewelry Trade Association of China (GAC) and Ms. Ke Jie, Vice-Director of the National Gemstone Testing Centre (NGTC), who will chair the congress. %% The purpose of the forthcoming congress is to be an opportunity to discuss issues faced by the coloured gemstone and jewellery industry, to provide a networking opportunity for ICA members, and international delegates and allow participants and industry members from numerous nations to meet. The backdrop of Panyu for the congress reflects the growth of the jewellery industry within this region and vice versa. Panyu has nearly 400 enterprises employing more than 70,000 workers within the trade. In 2007, the total value of domestic export was US$1.32 billion dollars. The region’s trade focus for the coming years will be on colored gemstones. The decision to select Panyu was taken after a bidding at the ICA’s 2007 Congress in Dubai. This will be the largest jewelry industry conference to ever be held in China, and the Panyu government has decided to name 2008 “The year of the Panyu colored gemstone industry." Mr. Johnny Chan, Chairman of Worldmart and Mr. Mickey Weinstock, Special Jewelry Advisor to the Panyu Government have been aapointed as event organizers, which will host over 1,000 delegates; 600 international participants and 400 from Hong Kong and China.