The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council announced today that it would be hosting the Mines to Market 2017 conference on March 18 and 19, 2017 at Hotel Grand Hyatt, Mumbai.

Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines, Government of India (GoI) will present the Keynote   Address. Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Hon’ble Minister of State for Commerce and Industry (IC) will preside over the Conference.

Mining Ministers of major rough diamond producing countries will be attending the conference. They will represent South Africa, Central Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia amongst other countries.

The conference aims to bring together on a single platform, various segments of the diamond pipeline and other stakeholders - Miners, Diamantaires, Retailers, Bankers and Analysts -- from across the globe to discuss the supply and demand issues faced by the global diamond Industry.

Commenting on the forthcoming event, Praveenshankar Pandya, Chairman, GJEPC, said, “India is the largest cut and polished diamond manufacturer in the world. Ninety-three per cent    of its production is exported. As a major player in the world market, I believe it is our responsibility – and I take pride in it – to organise this event wherein we bring together all the stakeholders from the world diamond industry on a single platform to discuss various challenges faced by the industry and come out with a future road map.”

The conference will comprehensively cover all segments of the diamond pipeline including mining, manufacturing, and retail. 

Russell Mehta, Vice Chairman GJEPC will present the overview on the Indian Diamond Industry at the Inaugural Session.

Major mining companies De Beers and ALROSA, will present the state and Future of Mining on Day I.

The panelists for the mining session include Kennedy Hamutenya, Diamond Commissioner, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Namibia; Jim Pounds, Executive Vice President, Diamonds, Dominion Diamond Corporation; Rio Tinto; and Rajiv Mehta, Dimexon.

The session on Midstream will see speakers and panelists deliberating on the topic “Survival in the Absence of Growth”. Participants for the session include Maujibhai Patel, Managing Director, Kiran Gems. Pvt. Ltd.; Stephane Fischler, President, AWDC; Ernest Blom, President, WFDB; Sanjay Kothari, Vice Chairman, KGK Group of Companies; and Ghanshyam Dholakia, MD, Harikrishna Exports Pvt. Ltd. The Session will be moderated by Des Kilalea, a renowned global analyst.

“Innovation in Stagflation” is the topic that will be dealt with in the Marketing and Retail session, and the speakers and panelists for the session include Oded Edelman, Jamesallen.com; David A. Bouffard, VP, Signet Corporate Affairs; Jean Marc Lieberherr, CEO, Diamond Producers Association; Sandeep Kulhalli, VP, Marketing & Retail, Tanishq.

Expert views on New Realities of Diamond Financing will be covered in the International Finance Session, and the speakers and panelists include representatives from Reserve Bank of India, Singapore Investment Diamond Exchange, SBI, IndusInd Bank.

Panelists for the Valuation with Kimberley Process session include Feriel Zarouki, Head of Govt. & Industry Relations, De Beers;  Sabyasachi Ray, GJEPC; Maurice, DRC; Mark Van Bockstael, WGDE Chair; Peter Meeus, Chairman, DDE.

Finally a topic on Diamond Certification will have speakers and panellists  including   Tom Moses, Executive VP & Chief Laboratory and Research officer, GIA; Marc Brauner, Co- CEO, IGI; Ans Anthonis, Chief Officer Diamond Lab & Research, HRD Antwerp; and Mark Gershburg, CEO, GSI and National Gemstone Testing Centre , China.

The Conference on Day II closing also includes presentation on Impact of Synthetics on the Natural Diamond Industry by Chaim Even Zohar and a presentation by the Bonas Group.

The two Day Conference will be hosted by Chaim Even Zohar, an internationally renowned   industry analyst and writer.