While addressing the World Diamond Conference in New Delhi, India, the World Diamond Council President Edward Asscher stressed that ‘unity’ is of paramount importance for the future growth of the global diamond industry. “On an ongoing basis, the united leadership of the diamond industry is more inclined than ever before to continue formulating and implementing improved ethical business standards” said Asscher.
"The mandate of the World Diamond Council is to do everything to promote, support and defend the Kimberley Process and to represent the industry in negotiations with the governments," stated Asscher. "Today the WDC is also looking at all the challenges surrounding the KP; and to assess the risks around it."
Elaborating on the active role the WDC plays in the Kimberley Process, which has been successful in reducing the incidence of conflict diamonds in the pipeline, Asscher emphasized that currently the WDC is also focusing on educating KP member nations and organizations "to get more knowledge and coordinate the working methods and procedures, so that exporting and all importing countries use the same methods."
Assher also referred to an informal meeting that took place in New Delhi, just prior to the start of the World Diamond Conference, and mentioned that the heads of the industry's various representative bodies had reiterated their support for WDC and its mission. "In the diamond family, as in any other family, there are sometimes differences of opinion," he added. “But, ultimately that is superseded by common cause,” he continued. "The WDC is a unique organization, for it requires that the most important leaders of the diamond industry must work closely together. After some public discussions it is my pleasure to confirm today that all organizations are now aligned in the interest of the total diamond industry," Asscher announced amidst applause by the audience.
"The sum of our united organizations is in this way much greater than the sum of its parts. And that is for the good of our industry. When you get to my age, one does not think of the next quarter or the next year - one thinks of the interests of the next generation.” Asscher declared with a tinge of emotion.
WDC is an organisation that represents the diamond industry in the development and implementation of the regulatory and voluntary systems to control the trade in diamonds embargoed by the United Nations or covered by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Indian Bureau, Rough&Polished
