World Diamond Congress Opens in Mumbai

The 35th edition of the World Diamond Congress, the bi-annual meeting of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA), opened today in Mumbai and will brainstorm ways in which to deal with challenges facing the diamond industry and to ensure sustainable growth.

“This is a proud moment indeed, as the congress, the most prestigious event of the two international bodies, WFDB and IDMA, is being held in India for the first time,” said Anoop Mehta, the president of the Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB).

Mehta stated that the congress will deliberate on issues including the challenge of ensuring full ‎disclosure and transparency with regards to synthetic diamonds, declining demand, and the ‎need for the promotion and marketing of diamonds, among others.

“The congress will serve as the crucial platform for dialog on burning issues related to the diamond industry such as consistent rough diamond supply and the Kimberley Process,” said Vipul Shah, the chairman of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). “We look forward to addressing the issues that plagues the industry today and come up with firm solutions in a bid to counter the downturn affecting the progress of the industry in recent times.”

Participants include  Avi Paz, WFDB’s president,   Gillian Milovanovic, the Kimberley Process chair,  Moti Ganz, the president of the IDMA and Eli Izhakoff, the president of the World Diamond Council, among others.

The congress, which was inaugurated by Prithviraj Chavan, chief minister of Maharashtra, will end on October 17.

Source: diamonds.net