Trade Organization

The Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE), a DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) platform, today announced the keynote speakers and subjects to be discussed at the third edition of its biennial two-day Dubai Diamond Conference 2017 ('DDC 2017') under the theme ‘Destination Next – Shaping the future of an interconnected marketplace’.

The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) has strongly refuted accusations made by Global Witness earlier today regarding three shipments of diamonds from Zimbabwe which were traded in Antwerp between December 2013 and September 2014.

According to Global Witness, European sanctions that are enforced against Zimbabwe may have been violated, because of the sale of three shipments of Zimbabwean diamonds in Antwerp, which may have indirectly benefitted the ZDI (Zimbabwe Defense Industries).

Sarine Technologies Ltd said its Sarine Profile digital diamond report will be rolled out across China by Soo Kee Group Ltd under the Love & Co. brand for its Lovemarque diamond collection. Love & Co. is the bridal brand of Singapore Exchange Mainboard-listed Soo Kee Group Ltd.

The Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) International Tender Center (ITC) will hold Gem Diamonds’ first tender of high-quality Letšeng productionoutside of Antwerp.

The lots will include large, high-value rough diamonds (+10.80 carat) from the Letšeng mine in Lesotho.

Viewing of the stones will take place at the ITC in the Israel bourse from October 15 - 18, with additional viewing in Antwerp from October 23 - November 2.

The first day of the Kimberley Process Intersessional Meeting in Perth on May 1 was disrupted by the Chinese delegation which opposed the presence of the Taiwanese group.

Australia complained to China's ambassador to the country following the disruption, which was described by one attendee as "extraordinary".

China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province which will eventually be reunited with the mainland. It insists that other countries cannot have diplomatic relations with both China and Taiwan.

HRD Antwerp will start offering bilingual diamond grading reports, with the first available in English/Korean and English/Chinese from February 1, 2017.

The announcement was made as part of an economic mission to South Korea (Seoul) and China (Shanghai), presided over by Antwerp's Mayor Bart De Wever. 

"The South-Korean market represents great opportunities and our presence here today is just a first step in what will undoubtedly become a mutually beneficial relationship," says Ari Epstein, Chairman of HRD Antwerp.

Mark Gershburg, the CEO and founder of Gemological Science International (GSI), has announced that he will no longer be a director of the U.S. Kimberley Process Authority (USKPA).

The USKPA is a trade association that works closely with the U.S. government to prevent the infiltration of conflict diamonds into legitimate trade.

Gershburg has spent over a decade as one of the three directors of the USPKPA, and said he was proud to have taken part in the global fight against illegal diamonds.

The American Gem Society (AGS) says that  Katherine Bodoh will be the new CEO, taking over on March 1 from current CEO, Ruth Batson, who is retiring.

The Diamond Producers Association, an organization of the world's leading diamond miners, has launched two movies as part of its campaign to attract millennial buyers.

The movies are part of the 'Real Is Rare' brand campaign which followed more than six months of research which featured interviews with young people aged around 18 to 35 in the United States.

The films aim to give an intimate view into two relationships which are non-traditional and where the characters are searching for meaningful long-term relationships, the DPA said.

The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) has expressed its horror at the bomb attacks carried out in Brussels, and sends its best wishes to the families of the people killed in the bombings and a speedy recovery for those injured.