The Panama Diamond Exchange (PDE) has appointed Dirk Blommaert as its Business Development Director, with the direct responsibility to advance the Panama Gem & Jewelry Center worldwide, and particularly in the Latin America markets as the region’s principal trading center for diamonds, colored gemstones and jewelry.

“We are fortunate to have an individual with Dirk’s knowledge and experience joining an excellent team headed by Panama Diamond Exchange President Erez Akerman”,” said Eli Izhakoff, PDE’s Founding Chairman. He further added that alongside Mr. Blommaert’s efforts will be undertaken “simultaneously with our international industry campaign to promote PDE and the Panama Gem & Jewelry Center as the gateway to Latin America.”

Mr. Blommaert will undertake road trips scheduled to Brazil from August 4 to 10, to Argentina from 11 to 14. Further road trips are scheduled for Colombia in September, Mexico in October and Bolivia in November, and others are in the planning stages.

Mr. Blommaert’s experience in the jewellery and diamond business of over 20 years spans milestones of serving as International Events Manager of the AWDC, introducing the Antwerp Diamond Pavilions at global jewelry trade shows, setting up his own company, serving 10 years as the business development consultant for Baselworld, consultant to projects such as IGT (International Gem Tower) in New York, developing business to business events for Antwerp diamond companies under the umbrella of ACTYF, in developing diamond markets such as Brazil, Russia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey.

The $200 million Panama Gem & Jewelry Center is the largest and most ambitious development project undertaken on behalf of the jewelry and gemstone trades in Latin America.