Diamond, Jewelry Industry Heads For India Conference

The eyes of the entire diamond and jewelry world will be focused on India next week as representatives of the major mining companies, jewelry firms, banks and industry analysts along with government ministers gather for a two-day conference to discuss the major issues affecting the industry.

Organized by India's Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), the International Diamond Conference – Mines to Markets 2005 takes place in Mumbai on May 24-25, and IDEX Online will be providing full coverage of all the proceedings.

Among the subjects slated for debate are the rough supply situation in the coming years, the challenge to natural diamonds from synthetics and the changing structure of the diamond pipeline.

India's Minister of Commerce & Industry Kamal Nath will inaugurate the conference while President of Botswana Festus Mogae will deliver the keynote address.

Also attending will be DTC Managing Director Gareth Penny, Douglas Ritchie, Managing Director of Rio Tinto Diamonds, Dilip Mehta, CEO of Rosy Blue, Hidetaka Kato, Chairman of Kashikey Co, and Wayne Isaacs, President and COO of Ekati Diamond Mines.

Israeli diamond magnate Lev Leviev is also due to take part in the seminar along with Ingele Ifoto, Minister of Mines, Democratic Republic of Congo, and representatives of the GIA, the HRD, ABN AMRO Bank and Russia's Gokhran state mineral depository among others. Mary L. Forte, President and CEO of Zale Corp will make a video presentation.