PDE plans grand opening of Phase 1 building

A Latin America Diamond & Jewelry Week is being organised in sync with the Panama Diamond Exchange celebrating the opening of the Phase I building of its dedicated trading complex, April 27-30, 2015. The buyers’ week will feature a variety of jewelry and loose gemstones, worth millions of U.S. dollars, and will be one of the most significant diamond and jewelry trade events ever held in Latin America. Also, it will highlight the opening and will be hosted on PDE's new 300 square-meter trading floor, inviting jewelers from across the region.

The buyers' week is being co-hosted by key Latin American jewelry associations Cámara de Joyería Jalisco from Mexico and Instituto Brasileiro de Gemas e Metais Preciosos (IBGM) from Brazil. Also co-hosting are the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, CIBJO-The World World Jewelry Confederation, India's Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, the Israel Diamond Exchange, the Antwerp Diamond Bourse, Diamond Dealers Club of New York and Fiera di Vicenza of Italy.

PDE's Phase I building has been operational already, though the opening is slated in April. Currently, trading activities are underway at the facility, and all import and export services. The building houses the PDE trading floor and administrative offices, private company offices, showrooms, vaults and secure transportation facilities, and has amongst its residents 45 multinational firms, including 14 of the world's largest diamond and jewelry trading corporations.

The building is located in a Free Zone. The PDE grand opening and Latin America Diamond & Jewelry Week will also see the unveiling of the Phase II building. Called the World Jewelry Hub, construction will begin in 2015, with a finish date scheduled for 2017. A dedicated website enabling registration and participation in the PDE grand opening and Latin America Diamond & Jewelry Week will be launched within the coming two weeks.