The next World Diamond Congress, considered to be the plenary session of the two apex international bodies of the diamond trade, the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA), will be held in Hong Kong from November 2-5, 2020. 

In a joint announcement the organisations said that the Congress, a biennial event, will commence on Monday morning, November 2, and end on Thursday, November 5, 2020 with a closing lunch. They have said that further details, including on registration, will be released later, as they become available.

"We are very pleased that we have been able to close the dates for the World Diamond Congress which takes place every two years," said WFDB President Ernie Blom and IDMA President Ronnie VanderLinden in a joint statement.

"We have not held the Congress in Hong Kong for a number of years, so I am delighted that we will be returning to this exciting and vibrant city which is also the gateway to the vitally important Chinese market," said Blom. "I would like to thank Lawrence Ma, President of the Hong Kong Diamond Bourse, for the invitation to host the WFDB and IDMA. I am sure they will do a fantastic job in hosting us all.”

Blom added:  "I would ask members of our organisations, as well participants from other areas of the diamond industry, to please make a note of these important dates as the World Diamond Congress is a very important event where sensitive industry topics are debated with global input and decisions made,"

VanderLinden joined Blom in calling on IDMA officials to attend the World Diamond Congress. VanderLinden said: "The midstream of the diamond pipeline is under the greatest pressure that it has experienced for many years. It is vital that we have a full attendance, with members from across the world, to discuss this challenge and how we go forward."

Meanwhile, later this year, the two organisations will hold a Presidents’ Meeting – organised biennially between Congresses – at Dubai from September 23-25, 2019.