A.Dalumi Receives 2008 Exceptional Exporter Award

Israeli diamond manufacturer A.Dalumi received on Monday the 2008 Exceptional Exporter Award from the President of Israel, Shimon Peres. Among the nine companies that received the award is jewelry company Shablool Jewelry Designs.

IDE CEO Yair Cohen (left), Diamond Controller Shmuel Mordechai, Rafi Yerushalmi and Asher Dalumi of A.Dalumi and Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer at the Award ceremony

In 2008, Dalumi became the third largest diamond exporter in Israel, after its exports grew 7.1 percent to $182 million. Dalumi is the only firm among the top five Israeli diamond exporters that increased its exports in 2008.

The family-owned company was established by Asher Dalumi in 1960 and slowly grew to one of the leading diamond companies in the world. It is a Diamond Trading Company (DTC) Sightholder since 1993.

A.Dalumi employs 600 people worldwide and polished $100 million worth of diamonds last year.

Israel’s net diamond exports in 2008 were $10.72 billion. Of this, $6.24 billion were polished diamond exports and $4.48 billion rough diamond exports.

Shablool was established by two brothers, Yochai and Hillel, in 1989. They manufacture handmade silver jewelry, employing mostly recent immigrants. About 75 percent of their goods, worth $9 million, were exported in 2008.

The other seven recipients of the honor include hi-tech, chemical and consumer goods companies.