WDC Honors Oppenheimer

(IDEX Online News) – The World Diamond Council has paid a special tribute to De Beers Chairman Nicky Oppenheimer at a gala dinner this week in Vicenza, Italy.

Oppenheimer, who arrived with his son Jonathan, was presented with a silver plate to mark the occasion, WDC President Eli Izhakoff read the inscription, which recognized the De Beers chairman for his many years of dedicated support for the WDC and the Kimberley Process.

"As a leader and a mentor [he] recognized the diamond industry's potential to contribute to the wellbeing and future of all its stakeholders," Mr. Izhakoff noted.

Oppenheimer said that the WDC dinner would be the last industry event that he would address before his retirement from De Beers in December.

"Like the Kimberley Process, the WDC will also need to evolve to ensure that it can continue to represent the diamond industry effectively in its engagements with governments and other stakeholders," Oppenheimer said.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the World Diamond Council's success over the next few years will be measured in part by how effective it is in building bridges of understanding across the diamond pipeline to the benefit of both producers and markets."

"As I contemplate an imminent change in my personal circumstances in the next few months, I am often reminded that only a diamond is forever."