ICA PRESS RELEASE

ICA to promote color in Portojoia, Portugal

New York, August 23, 2005 - The major gem and jewelry trade show in Portugal, Portojoia, that takes place in OPorto from 21 to 25 September, will co-host with the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) a series of educational and discussion seminars that intend to increase colored gemstone perception amongst the local trade.

Key issues will include disclosure communication from trade to consumer and the new opportunities for color offered in a crisis sector. The final event will gather the key Portuguese industry leaders in a discussion panel moderated by Rui Galopim de Carvalho, ICA Ambassador to Portugal.

Exponor, the show organizer, arranged for a display in the show's main lobby of the colorful and creative artwork submitted for the 3rd ICA Poster Competition that had a major Portuguese participation this year.

“It is the first time ever that such a series of events is planned in Portojoia and in Portugal, a country where gemstone information and education is still very limited,” said Galopim de Carvalho. “ICA is offering this country's industry the opportunity to participate in discussions, to learn from quality speakers and to enjoy the colorful ICA posters. This, I hope, will increase colored gemstone perception at all levels, will give fresh ideas and hope to the trade and will certainly contribute to increasing our industry's credibility and integrity levels. This is what ICA stands for after all.”

For more information contact:
Barbara Lipatapanlop, ICA Executive Director
ica@gemstone.org

or

Rui Galopim de Carvalho
ICA Executive Liaison Ambassador
ruigalopim@labgem.org
The International Colored Gemstone Association, headquartered in New York City and operating additional "GemBureaus" in Idar-Oberstein/ Germany, Bangkok/ Thailand and Dubai/ UAE, is the nonprofit trade association that represents the international colored gemstone industry, an extremely important and influential segment of the jewelry business. ICA has over 500 members in 46 countries worldwide.