Israel became the chosen one elected as Deputy Chairman of the Kimberley Process (KP) for the coming year, during the recently held Sixth Plenary of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in New Delhi. With this, Israel will Chair the KP in 2010.

According to Israel’s Diamond Controller Shmuel Mordechai, who initiated the nomination, at the time of Israel’s chairmanship, the country will host all international conferences in which senior government representatives of the world are expected to participate. The KP so far has 70 member countries in its portfolio. Eli Yishai, Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor, supported this resolution, expressing his appreciation of the importance of the KP in serving humanity and supporting the economy. Mordechai elucidated this as an opportunity to bring forth the potential of Israel to the global diamonds industry and the 70 member countries.