A senior diplomatic delegation from South Africa, led by High Commissioner H.E. Professor Anil Sooklal and Consul General Gideon Labane, visited the Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) on 29 April, signalling focus on strengthening bilateral ties in the diamond sector.
The delegation was received by Anoop Mehta, President, BDB; Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, GJEPC; Mehul Shah, Vice President, BDB, and other committee members. Officials toured the BDB campus, reviewing its infrastructure and secure trading ecosystem.
South Africa remains a key source of rough diamonds globally, and discussions centred on reinforcing supply stability, expanding trade partnerships, and building long-term value for industry stakeholders. Both sides explored avenues to deepen institutional collaboration across the diamond pipeline.
Highlighting over 200 years of India-South Africa ties, Mehul Shah called for faster visa processing with longer validity for BDB members and employees to ease business operations and support smoother rough diamond flows. He also proposed showcasing rough diamonds from South African producers at the India Diamond Trading Company within the bourse, enabling wider access, particularly for MSMEs, to direct supply from mines.