President of Panama Ricardo Martinelli, ministers and other senior government officials of the country, leaders of the global diamond and jewelry industry, as well as about 200 participants from the jewelry industry from Latin America and other countries gathered in Panama City to celebrate the launch of the Panama Center for Precious Stones and jewelry (Panama Gem & Jewelry Center), the first specialized trading platform for diamonds, colored gemstones and jewelery in the region that covers the Central and South America, Mexico and the Caribbean. The core organization of the center will be the Diamond Exchange of Panama (Panama Diamond Exchange).
Speaking to 550 guests at a gala dinner that concluded the two-day opening ceremony, President Martinelli praised the Diamond Exchange of Panama and the Center for the initiative to create a regional trading platform. He noted that Panama is one of the most stable economies in the region and has good connections. According to him, this country may be small in area, but certainly not small in terms of foresight.
"Panamanians are a proud and patriotic people," said Eli Izhakoff, Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Diamond Exchange of Panama. "They are aware of their role and the special position of Panama in Latin America, which has become one of the busiest economies in the region. It is no coincidence that more than 100 leading international corporations, including Dell, Hewlett Packard, General Electric, Proctor & Gamble and Caterpillar, chose Panama for the location of their head offices. Today, to this impressive list, we will add the Panama Center for Precious Stones and Jewelry, created on the basis of the Diamond Exchange of Panama. "