Blom Reelected WFDB President at World Diamond Congress

(IDEX Online News) – World Federation of Diamond Bourses president was unanimously elected for a third consecutive two-year term at the recent 37^th World Diamond Congress held in Dubai. Israel Diamond Exchange president Yoram Dvash was elected as vice president.

The congress met to discuss issues affecting the industry and Blom commented that the three-day gathering was provided an excellent atmosphere and a positive feeling that the industry was emerging from a difficult 2015. On the agenda were the challenges of financing, price lists, synthetics, the policy of producers, supply chains and traceability, anti-money laundering, transparency in business, and tenders.

The WFDB emphasized that it had created an International Young diamantaires group, comprised of younger members of diamond firms from the main diamond centers, including Israel, India, Belgium, the US, South Africa and Australia, and who will communicate on a regular basis.

Blom said that one of the key lessons of the congress was the need to show commitment to transparency. “How many other industries have taken the steps that the diamond industry has taken over the last 15 years to prove its commitment to making its operations visible to all and with a concern for the people who mine those diamonds in difficult conditions? The answer is very few, if any,” he said.

The next WFDB and IDMA Presidents Meeting in 2017 will be hosted by the Bharat Diamond Bourse, while the Israel Diamond Exchange will host the 38th World Diamond Congress in 2018.