The two-day diamond conference FACETS 2023 organized by the government of Botswana and the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) concluded on October 25.
The conference was inaugurated by Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and it welcomed a host of delegates and industry stakeholders from across the globe, gathering to discuss the state of the diamond industry and current challenges and opportunities, zooming in on how diamonds can be agents of change in diamond-producing countries on the African continent.
According to AWDC, over 450 people attended the event which turned out to be a "resounding success".
At the opening addresses of the conference, prominent speakers, including Masisi and AWDC CEO Ari Epstein, underscored Botswana’s leadership position as the world’s largest diamond producer. They spoke about the importance of sustainability, transparency and traceability as key components to safeguard consumer confidence and ensure a prosperous and responsible natural diamond industry that supports local communities.
"Economic challenges and geopolitical tensions are testing our resilience as an industry," said Epstein.
"That is when true leadership emerges, and we are privileged to stand side by side with our Batswana and Africa partners in this matter."
During a panel discussion named "State of the Diamond Market, Challenges and Opportunities", participants delved deeper into the subjects raised in the opening ceremony, speaking about how natural diamond industry often fails to tell the story on a diamond’s origin and its positive impact on communities, then shifting towards topics of technological advancements and the role of Lab-Grown Diamonds (LGD) in the market.
The second discussion was devoted to gender equality, diversity and inclusiveness, while the at the third one panelists discussed how African producing countries can ensure continued growth by simple, efficient and predictable legislation and financial incentives.
The second day of the conference was centered around innovative diamond and jewellery related ideas by local companies. The winners of the competition received prizes and valuable feedback on their ideas.
Theodor Lisovoy, Editor in Chief of the European bureau, Rough&Polished
