Diamond industry leaders to discuss key issues a day before Eastern Economic Forum

Discussions between leaders of the diamond industry are planned to take place on various issues surrounding the industry, just a day prior to the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) opening in Vladivostok, Russia. The discussion would take place in the most eastern harbor city of the Russian Federation and centre around diamond marketing and promotion, assess the threat of the synthetic diamond industry and contemplate financing and investment opportunities in the diamond industry.

The Forum is hosted by the Sakha and Federal governments and is sponsored by Alrosa. Key speakers of the Diamond Forum will be Alrosa’s President, Andrey Zharkov; WFDB President Ernest Blom; GJEPC Chairman Vipul Shah; Chairman of the World Diamond Mark Foundation Alex Popov; Dilip Mehta, CEO of Rosy Blue; Patrick Kwok of the world's largest jewellery retailer Chow Tai Fook and Kris Cuyvers, of CASE consultants. Guest of Honour is H.E. Sultan bin Sulayem, Chairman of the DP World, one of the founders of the DMCC. Ari Epstein, CEO of AWDC will moderate the session. Olya Linde of Bain & Company (Moscow) will lead a session of "Asia-Pacific and Russia: diamond industry growth opportunities.

Ernest Blom said that with the diamond market undergoing structural changes in the various stages of the supply pipeline, meetings like these "are not only very important, they are crucial to keeping the channels of communication between the various supply pipeline members open. I am pleased we have four president of bourses affiliated to the WFDB with us in Vladivostok. An issue that concerns all of us here is the need to market diamonds more successfully and create better profit margins for all players in the market. Therefore, we are looking forward to update our colleagues about the work that is done by the World Diamond Mark - on behalf of the WFDB - in the arena of generic promotion to the consumer and to impress the need for other stakeholders to join us in these efforts!"Blom stated.

At a Diamond Panel Discussion, the event's participants will discuss the opportunities in new diamond jewellery markets potential and hear about government support for the diamond industry in Russia. The panel participants would include – Egor Borisov, President of the Republic of Sakha/Yakutia; Maxim Shkadov, President of IDMA; Anoop Mehta Bharat Diamond Bourse President; Sandro Sze of Brilliant Trading Company; Elena Kurchuk, of DLA Piper Rus Ltd., and Sandeep Kothari of KGK.

"We are pleased to host such an impressive roster of speakers and participants in this event," Andrey Zharkov said. "Alrosa is currently the largest producer of rough diamonds and both the local and federal government, as well as the company, are eager to explore venues that will bring greater added value to the company, the country's economy and the business partners we work with."