Vladimir Pilyushin: The jewelry market is not stand-alone and moves by the same laws as other markets

Vladimir Pilyushin is editor-in-chief of Russian Jeweler, a leading magazine about the jewelry industry in Russia. He told Rough&Polished about his view on the evolution of the jewelry industry in Russia and touched upon some of its problems.

16 september 2024

Sarine’s David Block: Diamond Industry at Standstill Until Chinese Demand Returns

David Block is CEO of Israel’s Sarine Technologies and has served in the position since 2012. In this exclusive interview for Rough and Polished, Block gives his opinion on the leading issues affecting today’s diamond trade.

11 september 2024

Dr M'zée Fula Ngenge: Demand for considerable-sized diamonds stronger than ever

The African Diamond Council (ADC) chairperson Dr M'zée Fula Ngenge told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that although overall global diamond prices have been somewhat soft, the demand for considerable-sized diamonds...

02 september 2024

Amplats sees prospects as a standalone company

Anglo has revealed its plans to demerge Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), which has operations in South Africa and Zimbabwe, to optimise shareholder value. Rough&Polished contacted Amplats to comment on this and other issues but was referred...

19 august 2024

WFDB President Yoram Dvash Remains Confident Despite Global Diamond Challenges

Yoram Dvash is President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) having been elected in 2020. He found time in his busy schedule to speak to Rough&Polished about the state of the diamond industry around the world and some of the major...

12 august 2024

Norway is head of Arctic Council

15 may 2023
The 13th session of the Arctic Council took place in Salekhard, Russia, at which Russia transferred the chairmanship to Norway.
“The Arctic is a strategic region. This territory is of global importance for our country and for the development of international cooperation. Russia has fulfilled all its obligations in the Arctic Council in full. The main attention was focused on four key priorities: “People of the Arctic, including indigenous peoples”, “Environmental protection, including climate change issues”, “Socio-economic development”, and “Strengthening Arctic cooperation”. Over a two-year period, our country has held about 90 different events, including forums, conferences, round tables, championships, festivals and sports competitions,” said Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.
For the Russian side as the Chairman of the Council, the main priority was to ensure responsible governance in the sustainable development of the Arctic. On the basis of respect for international law, Russia has contributed to the implementation of the ESG approach for the balanced development of the Arctic. The events were held within 11 thematic blocks, covering all promising areas. For example, last year a stand dedicated to the Arctic and the Arctic Council appeared for the first time at the SPIEF.
“During the Russian chairmanship, the issues of Arctic sustainable development have become an integral part of discussions within the key business platforms of our country. We will continue to implement large-scale projects in the Arctic in accordance with our main priorities and will promote the results of this work on a regular basis as part of major international congress and exhibition events,” said Anton Kobyakov, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation.
Vedomosti notes that the Council devoted the events of the block “Climate Change and the Ecology of the Arctic” to the issues of the environmental agenda. Experts and specialists who took part in these events discussed the problems of working with waste and microplastics in the northern latitudes, lifting flooded radioactive and dangerous objects in the seas of the Arctic Ocean, melting permafrost and bioremediation of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems of the Arctic coast.
The plan for the Russian chairmanship of the Arctic Council from the very beginning was calculated until August 2023, so Russia will hold a number of events designed to promote socio-economic development, preserve the ecology of the northern latitudes and scientific study of the Arctic. In the coming months, about 20 events will take place, including: the International Conference on Biodiversity in the Arctic and the International Forum on Specially Protected Natural Areas in the Arctic as part of SPIEF-2023, the Second All-Russian Forum-Festival of Volunteers “Arctic. The Ice Has Broken”, Arctic Festival “Teriberka”, Festival “Bering Strait”, International Maritime Arctic Educational and Scientific Expeditions “Education-through-Research”. The operator of the chairmanship events is the Roscongress Foundation.

Alexandra Pozdnyakova for Rough&Polished