The Organizing Committee of the 41st World Diamond Congress has welcomed the inclusion of Botswana and Angola as Nation Affiliated Members of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), ahead of the Congress scheduled in Singapore from July 12–15, 2026.

The announcement followed a summit held in Botswana on May 18–19, organized in collaboration with Botswana’s Ministry of Minerals and Energy. Discussions at the summit focused on the long-term positioning of natural diamonds, including provenance, beneficiation, transparency, sustainability and value creation across producing nations and trading centres.

According to organizers, the gathering aimed to reinforce consumer confidence and strengthen the value proposition of natural diamonds amid increasing competition within the global luxury sector.

Fabio Cascapera, President of the Diamond Exchange of Singapore (DES) and Chair of the Congress Organizing Committee, said the development aligns with themes planned for the upcoming Congress.

“We congratulate Angola, Botswana, and the WFDB on this milestone! The summit synced seamlessly with the topic of one of the congress panels, called ‘African Leadership in the Diamond Pipeline: Building Strong Societies Through Diamonds.’ We therefore look forward to the participation of representatives of Angola and Botswana in the Congress and in these panels!” Cascapera said.

The panel will examine Africa’s expanding role across the diamond value chain beyond rough diamond production. Topics will include transparency, sustainability, local value creation, socio-economic development, employment generation, infrastructure support and challenges linked to fair revenue distribution and global market pressures.

Held every three years by the WFDB and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA), the World Diamond Congress brings together leaders from the global diamond and jewellery industry to discuss sector challenges and future industry direction.

The 2026 edition will take place alongside the Singapore International Jewelry Expo (SIJE), combining industry discussions with exhibitions of jewellery, gemstones and timepieces.

Cascapera also encouraged delegates and industry participants to complete registrations and accommodation bookings through the Congress website.