Inaugural World Diamond Conference to take place in Delhi, India

The World Diamond Mark Foundation (WDMF), in close cooperation with the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), India, will organize an international World Diamond Conference supported by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, in December, with its heart at the future of diamonds and diamond jewellery in the global luxury consumer market.
The conference will be held in New Delhi December 11-12, 2014.
The event, which will be attended by representatives of the world's leading mining countries, major diamond producers, diamond and jewellery manufacturers, retailers and industry interest organizations, will focus on the most urgent issue that worries the international diamond industry and trade: the revival of consumer enthusiasm for diamonds and the consequent increase of market share for diamond jewellery in the luxury sector. The World Diamond Mark Foundation, together with its early adopters and supporters, believes it holds the keys to the vehicle that will help boost consumer demand for diamonds and diamond jewellery.
"The global diamond industry is subject to challenging times," WDMF Chairman Alex Popov stated. "Consumer demand for the category needs tremendous boost and thus Global Marketing is a significant area that needs detailed deliberation. The World Diamond Conference is an effort to consolidate the industry under one roof and plan way forward," Popov stated.
"The conference's timing and location were more proof of India's changing role in the global gem and jewellery industry and trade," GJEPC Chairman Vipul Shah said.
"India is not only the world's major diamond producer; we are also a huge manufacturer of jewellery and, last but not least, an enormous, expanding consumer market. Also, with our economy growing strongly and with a middle class that continues to expand and develop a taste for luxury, a lot of the WDMF's marketing and promotion programmes will fall on fertile ground. We have high expectations of this event!" GJEPC Chairman Vipul Shah said.
"The conference's timing and location are very important as they coincide with the highly important state visit of President Vladimir Putin to India and his meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Popov continued.
"Naturally, among the common interests of both countries is diamond industry and trade, and they may be expected to explore more close cooperation. We therefore hope that major players and institutions in Russia's diamond industry, such as Alrosa, Gokhran, Smolensk Kristall, Grib and others as well as representatives of the Ministry of Finance, Government of the Sakha Republic, and so forth, will be present during the President’s visit and also grasp this unique opportunity to join our two day conference," Popov, who is also the president of the Moscow Diamond Bourse, concluded.

Pavel Tolmach, Rough&Polished