PDE Leadership to Visit UAE/Turkey on International Outreach Program

(IDEX Online News) – The Panama Diamond Exchange’s (PDE) leadership will visit the Near and Middle East in May, as part of the bourse’s aim to foster ties between Latin America gemstone and jewelry traders and members of the global trade.

Ali Pastorini, PDE senior vice president, will visit Turkey on May 11 to meet with Turkish industry leaders and representatives of the local industry – being hosted there by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (IKO).

Pastorini will continue to Dubai on May 14, where she will be joined by PDE president Mahesh Khemlani. They will meet with companies headquartered in the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) that are interested in expanding their involvement in Latin American markets. Following those meetings, they will also attend the World Diamond Congress, organized by the World Federation of Diamond Bourses and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association.

"This is not simply an exploratory mission," said Pastorini. "We have been developing our business connections with the Turkish and Dubai centers for many months already, and have a received great deal of positive feedback. Both Turkish Airlines and Emirates are now launching regular air services to Panama, facilitating the easy movement of people, goods and services between our countries."

PDE’s outreach program was developed with the World Jewelry Hub and is a two-tiered strategy, which promotes the Panamanian gemstone and jewelry center as the primary trading platform in Latin America, while creating links between Panama and members of the gem and jewelry trade in other parts of the world.