Wide Participation Expected at GJEPC’s Diamond Conference

The International Diamond Conference, Mines to Markets, organized by The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) in Mumbai is expected to discuss burning issues confronting the global diamond and jewelry industry.

From April 26 to 27,, leading representatives of mining countries and companies, diamond manufacturers from around the globe, bankers and large jewelry retailers, will discuss beneficiation, dilemmas facing manufacturing centers, synthetic diamonds, emerging trading hubs, and new and old retail markets.

The chief guest at the inaugural session at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) auditorium is Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The guest of honor is India’s Minister of State of Commerce, Jairam Ramesh.

Speakers will cover a wide range of aspects and issues facing the industry. They include Ketan Parikh of Mahendra Brothers who will discuss rough diamond supply and pricing, Ronnie Van der Linden, CEO of Diamex, and Stephane Fischler of Fischler Diamonds who will discuss lab grown diamonds.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, COO of the DMCC, Anoop Mehta, President of the Bharat Diamond Bourse, and Loet Kniphorst, head of ABN Amro’s diamond division, will talk about emerging trading centers and diamond financing.

Other speakers include Beryl Raff, Martin Rapaport, Sunil Mittal, and Hemant Shah Convener. Chaim Even-Zohar will moderate the conference.