Dubai, UAE: DMCC – the world’s flagship Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise hosted its flagship Dubai Diamond Conference (DDC) held under the theme “The Future of Diamonds” and it was my pleasure to be a part of the conference attended by the stalwarts of the diamond industry.
The fifth edition of the conference convened 550 government officials, trade association members, and leaders of businesses across the supply chain – from miners and manufacturers to financiers and retailers. The speakers at DDC included HE Dr Diamantino Azevedo, Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, Republic of Angola; Bruce Cleaver, CEO of De Beers; Sergey Ivanov, CEO of ALROSA; Yoram Dvash, President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses; and Ronnie van der Linden, President of the International Diamond Manufacturers Association.
L to R: Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC.
Iris Van Der Veken, Executive Director, Responsible Jewellery Council.
Bruce Cleaver, Chief Executive Officer, De Beers Group.
Mr. Edouard Bongwende Yangi, Expert Chef de Service Recherche Operationnelle. Departement Banque de donnees.
In his opening remarks, Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, announced that the UAE reached the top spot globally as a rough diamond hub, trading over USD 22.8 billion worth of rough diamonds in 2021. The country’s polished segment continues to grow at pace, closing in on the current market leader.
Video Credit: The Diamond Talk
Seeking to encourage dialogue on the most critical challenges and growth opportunities in the industry, the DDC offered attendees a busy agenda that included four main panels titled:
1. Why did diamonds do so well during COVID?.
2. The New Consumer and Changing Demands.
3. Rethinking the Diamond Supply Chain.
4. Perspectives from the trade associations.
The keynotes shared by the stalwarts of the global diamond industry are:
1. Educating Consumers.
2. Build Trust.
3. Transparency.
4. Ethical
5. Sustainability.
It was indeed a wonderful experience at the Dubai Diamond Conference to interact with the global diamond leaders!
In conclusion, I would like to say that the Future Of Diamonds is FOREVER and I look forward to the next Dubai Diamond Conference 2023!
In line with its mandate to attract, facilitate and drive new trade flows through Dubai, DMCC has played a vital role in establishing the emirate as a leading global hub for the diamond trade. DMCC’s Dubai Diamond Exchange is the largest diamond tender facility in the world and home to over 1,100 diamond companies, providing members and industry professionals with state-of-the-art infrastructure, facilities and services to trade with confidence.
The occasion provides a unique platform for leaders and innovators to celebrate achievements in the trade and a networking opportunity with key stakeholders from the region.
The Awards is attended by an elite audience, including:
– Chairmen, CEOs and senior managers of major jewellery and gemstone companies
– Leaders of international and local trade associations with a strong presence in the region
– Key government officials from the region
– Pioneering entrepreneurs