DIAMOND FOCUS
Special Forums to be held in September aim to enhance dialogue, thereby formalising rough diamond valuation
Photo by: Duane Daws
Three Special Forums are due to take place at the end of the month, in conjunction with the Antwerp World Diamond Conference (AWDC) in Belgium, as part of certification scheme the Kimberley Process’s initiative to improve rough diamond valuation.
The AWDC will take place on September 30 at the Hyllit Hotel, in Antwerp. The Special Forums will focus on valuation practices employed by the global diamond industry and take the format of expert workshops – open dialogue also will examine other methods being used that will eventually develop into more formalised approaches to rough diamond valuation.
Representatives from mining companies, auction and tender experts, professional diamond valuators and polished price index specialists will engage in the discussion. The three pillars of the Kimberley Process – government, industry and civil society – are also invited.
Kimberley Process chairperson Ahmed Bin Sulayem says that, in the second of the Special Forums, the aim is to enhance dialogue to form a better understanding of how a more formalised approach to rough diamond valuation will be beneficial to the entire industry.
“The collaboration with Antwerp World Diamond Centre will reinforce the debate as will the continued participation of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. “We aim to reach a consensus for universal conformity at our third and final meeting,” he explains.
Enhanced awareness and conformity will allow producing countries to get more value from their mineral resources.