The five-day Intersessional Meeting 2019 of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) commenced in Mumbai today, with a brief Opening Session at which all three speakers laid great emphasis on the evolution of KP from an organisation which sprung up to tackle ‘conflict’ diamonds to one which can take its place in the contemporary scenario with a wider definition, wider goals and as a harbinger of peace.

India holds the KP Chair this year and is represented in the position by Alok Vardhan Chaturvedi, India’s Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT); while Russia is  the Vice-Chair.

In his opening speech, the KP Chair emphasised the achievement of KP over the last 16 years since it was founded. 

“The diamonds which were called ‘blood’ or ‘conflict’ diamonds  are almost completely excluded from the global trade,” he said. “Every rough diamond parcel is accompanied by a certificate confirming its non-conflict origin. Export and import procedures in most of the countries are subject to rigorous control.”

Chaturvedi went on to say: “KP has made valuable developmental impact in improving the lives of most people dependent on the trade in diamonds.”  

Turning his attention to the current discussion on Review and Reform which is one of the important agendas of the meeting, Chaturvedi said: “With 2019   being the final year of the Kimberley Process  three year review, the focus is around the theme ‘From Blood Diamonds to Peace Diamonds’ and KP as a conflict prevention tool as well as a facilitator of sustainable development, good governance and transparency. KP has to consider improving KP standards and modalities with peer review mechanism; raising the level of representation and participation; improving the gathering and flow of essential data; and creating a permanent secretariat. The way forward is to transition from Conflict diamonds to Peace diamonds.”

Stephane Fischler, President of the World Diamond Council (WDC), which is  an  important component of KP, called upon   KP-member countries to enact measures that enable diamonds to meet their full developmental potential in his address.

"We must agree that the Kimberley Process should ensure that each government takes responsibility to ensure a chain of provenance, earning the trust of consumers wherever they are, and in so doing produce the revenues that must filter back to the grass roots of the mining communities,"  Fischler stated.

He  noted, diamond producing countries with a relative absence of ongoing conflict and violence were best  able to harness the developmental potential of diamonds.

"The Kimberley Process has today a one-time opportunity to make a difference in those countries where the diamond industry has not yet met its developmental potential," he said.

 The final speaker at the Opening Session, Shamiso Mtisi, Coordinator of the Civil Society Coalition also placed emphasis on the Review and Reform Process, which he said was in its penultimate year and was yet to see a “substantial discussion” on issues.

Msitsi  urged delegates to examine the suggestions brought up in the course of the Review & Reform Process and to ensure that the developmental goals are realised  for the countries producing diamonds.  He also stressed the need to ensure that the artisanal miners were brought within the KP fold -- both in terms of provenance guarantees of their diamonds being conflict free; and for them to be able to benefit from diamonds through fair prices etc.

The Intersessional is an annual mid-year meet of KPCS.  The Kimberley Process Chairmanship 2019 India event is organised by the Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India; and co-organised by KP Exporting/ Importing Authority – The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

Present at the event are representatives from 82 countries including the US, the Russian Federation, European Union, Africa, Canada, China, Israel, Japan, Singapore, Australia, UAE, New Zealand, South Africa,   amongst  many others.

Apart from the presentations by the Working Group Chairs and the conducting of  routine business, the KP Intersessional Meeting 2019 in Mumbai will have special forums on Diamond Terminology and Artisanal Mining.

In an innovative  move, there will also be sessions on  “How to make collective programmes work”. For this, Mumbai's famous Dabbawallas (those who collect and deliver lunchboxes, from homes to offices of thousands of working persons) will make a presentation on  the ‘Chain of Custody’; and the All India Angadiya's Association (angadiyas are informal  couriers who carry diamonds and jewellery from city to city) will make a presentation on ‘Indigenous Solutions’.

The Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry will make a presentation on pooling resources through Common Facility Centres (CFCs); And The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) will conduct   sessions on Cluster Mapping, Parichay Card, Health Insurance Schemes, etc.

Pic Cap: Opening Session of the KP Intersessional 2019 in progress