AWDC to Host Conference on Industry’s Future

The Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC) announced yesterday (Monday) plans to host a conference in October, entitled “Producers in Transition: the Changing Industry Dynamic,” to discuss the future of the diamond industry, with a particular focus on the issues likely to surface as a result of the rising power of producer countries.

Speakers at the conference include the deputy president of South Africa, Angola’s deputy prime minister, senior representatives from Botswana and Liberia, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz and global development campaigner and rock star Bob Geldof. Leading mining companies and representatives of major producing countries, including Russia and Canada, will also be participating.

The focus of the seminar will be to address the major issues facing the diamond industry – whether the shift in power towards diamond producing countries will continue and what impact this will have on other aspects of the industry – mining, polishing, trading, banking and retailing.

The conference is scheduled to take place October 15-16 at the Flanders Congress & Concert Center in Antwerp and will be moderated by Chaim Even-Zohar.