The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), the licensing authority for the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) will host an inaugural Dubai Diamond Conference in March.
The program for the March 18-19 conference will include discussions on how to create innovation and growth in the diamond industry in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
The conference will be held at the Almas Tower home to more than 1,000 diamond, precious metals, precious stones and jewelry companies.
The two-day conference will bring together international leaders of the diamond industry ranging from African ministers to traders, financiers and world-renowned jewelers.
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, DMCC, said Dubai had become one of the world's leading diamond centers in the past decade, and added that this year would be "pivotal" for the global diamond trade.
The keynote speakers include Susan Shabangu, South Africa's Minister of Mineral Resources; Dr. Obert Moses Mpofu, Zimbabwe's Minister of Mines and Mining Development; Dr. Francisco Queiroz, Angola's Minister of Geology, Mines and Industry; and Isak Katali, Namibia's Minister of Mines and Energy.
They will speak on their respective roles, covering topics from mining to polishing, trading to finance and diamond banking.
DDE Chairman Peter Meeus said: “The global diamond industry is going through a historic transformation, with the centre of gravity shifting significantly eastwards to Africa, the Middle East, India and China. Asia polishes, Africa has the rough diamonds, and Dubai has the trade links to both the producing countries in Africa and the major consumers in the Americas, Europe and Asia.
“As the only diamond industry conference in the region, the DDC will welcome ministers of mines from key African countries, leading diamantaires, industry experts and trade members from around the world to discuss what opportunities arise from this shift and how to manage this shift and further cement relationships between these international market participants.”