Blom highlights theme for 37th World Diamond Congress

With the 37th World Diamond Congress slated in the coming months, World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) President Ernie Blom outlined the key themes of the meeting will be transparency, responsibility and sustainability.

The Congress is the biennial meeting of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA), and is to take place in Dubai from May 16 to 19.

Ernie Blom noted that "Given the challenging conditions facing the diamond business, this year's meetings will be all the more important. We will be discussing how to create sustainable, long-term growth in the diamond supply pipeline, while bearing in mind the need for transparency, the highest levels of ethical behaviour and corporate social responsibility. He mentioned the discussions would be with WFDB's 30 presidents and more than 200 representatives of the global diamond industry who are expected to attend. These include producers, diamond-mining countries and a range of service organisations, such as banks and labs.

"The World Diamond Congress is one of the most important gatherings of the global diamond trade," said Blom. "It provides an opportunity for all the bourse presidents to present their views regarding critical issues that are on the industry's agenda. We will also hear the opinions of stakeholders involved in different areas of the diamond pipeline – from mining firms and governments to leading banks and labs.

"We also want to advance across-the-board support for generic marketing of diamonds via the WFDB's World Diamond Mark initiative and to create stronger links with the Diamond Producers Association, and how to increase the diamond jewellery sector's competitive position and share of the luxury consumer market.” He urged all members of the diamond industry to participate at the event, to be held at the Almas Tower hosted by the Dubai Diamond Exchange.