In a unique move, the Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) and The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), hosts of the forthcoming Presidents’ Meeting 2017 have organised  a seminar on diamond finance titled  “New Realities New Opportunities” on the sidelines of the meeting. The seminar will be held on February 6, 2017, immediately preceding the formal sessions of the Presidents’ Meeting – the biennial event of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA).  

The seminar, being held over two business sessions, apart from the Inaugural Session, has an impressive line-up.

Varda Shine, former CEO of De Beers’ Diamond Trading Company (DTC), and currently Diamond and Mining Industry Consultant, will chair the first business session – “Emerging Opportunities in Diamond Finance”.

Other speakers in this segment include Erik Jens of AMB AMRO; Walter Gontarek from Channel Capital Advisors; George Abraham of Emirates NBD and Paul Boots, Osprey Advisory. Following the presentations of the speakers they will also have a panel discussion, chaired by Shine, on the topic. Rajiv Mehta of Dimexon will join the panel discussion as well.

The second business session has a domestic focus – “Financing Small & Medium Companies in India”.

This session will have Biju Patnaik of IndusInd Bank; Anjan Ghosh of ICRA; T. Ravindranath of Syndicate Bank; and Rajneesh Sharma of Bank of Baroda making brief presentations. Following their talks, the speakers will be joined in a panel discussion by L. Venkatesh,  CNBC; Purshottam Behra, SBI Patiala; M. Ravichandram, Tata AIG; J. Mukherjee, SBI Diamond Branch; and Russell Mehta, Vice Chairman, GJEPC. The panel discussion will be conducted by Lata Venkatesh.

The Inaugural session will be addressed by Ernie Blom, President WFDB; Praveenshankar Pandya, Chairman GJEPC; Anoop Mehta, President BDB; Ajesh Mehta Convener of GJEPC’s Banking Insurance and Taxation Sub-Committee; and other dignitaries.