Nosiphiwo Mzamo: South Africa’s State Diamond Trader to buy diamonds from other African countries

South Africa’s State Diamond Trader (SDT) is set to buy diamonds from other African countries starting with Botswana. SDT’s chief executive Nosiphiwo Mzamo told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa at the country’s inaugural diamond show, which...

10 february 2025

Edahn Golan: Halo effect from lab-grown diamonds driving high demand for large, 2-carat natural stones in the U.S.

Edahn Golan, owner of the eponymous Edahn Golan Diamond Research and Data, told Rough & Polished's Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that their research found a halo effect from lab-grown diamonds. He said the trend among lab-grown diamond...

27 january 2025

Paul Zimnisky: We will see a modest recovery in natural diamond demand and prices in 2025

According to Paul Zimnisky, an independent diamond and jewellery analyst and consultant based in the New York metro area, the natural diamond industry will see a modest recovery in demand and prices this year. Zimnisky said a moderate recovery would...

13 january 2025

African Diamond Council makes traceability its top priority, wants KP to embrace Authentia.io

The African Diamond Council (ADC) has made traceability its foremost priority and has been contributing to a traceability solution called Authentia.io for the last three and a half years, which is now ready to globally satisfy the traceability...

16 december 2024

Gaetano Cavalieri: CIBJO leading the jewelry industry on critical issues

One of the gem and jewellery industry’s most well-known and respected personalities, Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, has been the president of the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO), for the past 23 years. CIBJO is the oldest international organisation...

09 december 2024

Maharashtra's Jewellery Park and CFC to contribute $75 bn exports by 2030

08 january 2024

India's Maharashtra State Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the Gems & Jewellery Park in Navi Mumbai and the Common Facility Centre (CFC) at Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ) Special Economic Zone will contribute $75 bn to India’s export goal by 2030.

While speaking at the inauguration of the India International Jewellery Trade Show (IIJS) 2024 in Goregaon, Mumbai, Fadnavis emphasized that these initiatives will establish a new ecosystem in the gems and jewelry industry, ensuring Maharashtra’s continued prominence as a leading exporter.

The completion of the Common Facility Centre (CFC) at SEEPZ in just 17 months will enable exporters, particularly in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, to experience hassle-free shipment and paperwork.

Expressing gratitude to the Maharashtra Government for its support, Mr Vipul Shah, Chairman of Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, stated that the jewelry park in Navi Mumbai will serve as a one-stop-shop. It will offer Single Window Clearance for government approvals under the Maitri Policy, streamlining and expediting processes. This groundbreaking initiative aims to boost manufacturing capacity, promote technological advancements, and offer extensive skill development opportunities, he added.

Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished