The Presidents Meeting of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) began in Dubai yesterday with a special inaugural event followed by special sessions on lab-grown diamonds and provenance and traceability.  

The opening ribbon cutting ceremony took place in the presence of Chairman of Sodiam, Angola's state-owned diamond trading company, Dr. Eugenio Bravo da Rosa, who is leading a large delegation to the event, along with CIBJO President Dr Gaetano Cavalieri, WFDB President Ernie Blom, IDMA President, Ronnie Van der Linden and Chairman of the host organisation DMCC, Ahmed Bin Sulayem.

Angola, which has diamond reserves estimated at 180 million carats, and has the potential to become the largest diamond mining country in the world, intends to establish a diamond bourse in Luanda, its capital city, as part of its strategic plans.

Diamonds are found mainly in the provinces of Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul in the central and northeastern parts of the country. Angola’s total rough diamond production last year was 8.4 million carats with a value of US$ 1.2 billion, according to Kimberley Process statistics.

WFDB President Ernie Blom said: “We are happy to welcome this important delegation from Angola, a key player for future diamond mining potential and we welcome the important changes which have been taking place in the country. Obviously the WFDB is ready to welcome a new diamond bourse and we are happy that this is being studied.”

Pic caption: At the ribbon cutting ceremony (l to r) Ronnie Van der Linden, President of IDMA, Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of the DMCC, Ernie Blom, President of the WFDB, Dr. Eugenio Bravo da Rosa, Chairman of Sodiam, and Gaetano Cavalieri, President of CIBJO

Pic courtesy: WFDB