In New Delhi, the World Diamond Conference was opened. The conference is being held during the visit of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to India, which is expected, together with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to attend the event, organized by the Gem & Jewelery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), the Indian Council for the Promotion of Gems and Jewelery, and the World Diamond Mark Foundation (WDMF) with the support of the Ministry of Trade and Industry of India.
Opening the conference, GJEPC chairman Vipul Shah said that the main challenge facing the diamond industry is to ensure a future growth in the share of diamonds and diamond jewelry in the luxury market and that attention at this two-day conference will focus on the crucial issue of expanding consumer demand for diamonds.
"I hope that a concrete plan can be worked out on this platform on how we can unite our efforts for the sole and ultimate goal of achieving growth in the retail segment, thereby ensuring the healthy condition of the entire diamond pipeline," said Vipul Shah.
Speaking about the achievements of the Indian diamond industry, he informed the audience that the GJEPC had forwarded to the Indian government a list of proposals from the industry, which includes, in particular, the creation of special customs zones to give impetus to trading activities. "We are deeply grateful to the Government of India and the Ministry of Trade and Industry in connection with the fact that the proposal to create special customs zones has been adopted in principle," said the head of GJEPC.