The diamond industry has always evolved through moments of pressure.
Every major transition in the pipeline, from the consolidation of mining power to the rise of manufacturing centres, from branding to traceability, has emerged from periods when the trade was compelled to reassess itself. The Kimberley Process (KP) itself was born from one such moment.
More than two decades later, the KP once again finds itself at an important intersection.
The conversation around diamonds today is no longer confined to scarcity, pricing or market cycles. It is increasingly shaped by transparency, accountability and consumer confidence. The modern consumer wants assurance, not assumptions. Provenance matters. Ethics matter. Credibility matters.
In this environment, the relevance of the Kimberley Process becomes even more significant.
For all the criticism that global institutions inevitably attract, the KP remains one of the few frameworks where governments, industry and civil society continue to engage through dialogue rather than division. That structure, painstakingly built over the years, remains its greatest strength. The process may sometimes appear slow, but consensus-driven systems are rarely designed for speed alone. Their value lies in legitimacy and collective ownership.
India assumes the Chairmanship of the Kimberley Process in 2026 with that understanding.
India’s relationship with the diamond industry is both economic and historic. As the world’s largest cutting and polishing centre, India is deeply linked to every stage of the natural diamond pipeline. Millions of livelihoods directly and indirectly depend upon the continued stability and credibility of this trade. India has also previously chaired the KP in 2008 and 2019, giving it both continuity and institutional experience at a time when the process must carefully navigate new expectations.
Our Chairmanship this year is centred around three closely linked priorities: Confidence, Compliance and Credibility.
Confidence is the foundation upon which the diamond industry ultimately rests. Consumer confidence sustains demand, but confidence within the pipeline is equally critical. Producing nations must retain faith in the fairness of the system. Manufacturers and traders must trust the integrity of supply chains. Retailers must be confident in the assurances they extend to consumers.
That confidence cannot exist without Compliance.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme established a common global framework for regulating rough diamond trade. Its success depends not only on rules, but on consistent implementation and collective responsibility. Compliance is not simply a procedural requirement; it is what protects the integrity of the system itself.
At the same time, compliance without Credibility risks becoming mechanical.
The KP must therefore continue adapting to the realities of a rapidly changing industry. Discussions around traceability, digitisation and procedural reform are not signs of instability. They are reflections of an industry attempting to strengthen itself in response to changing global expectations. The challenge lies in balancing reform with consensus, ambition with practicality, and progress with inclusiveness.
The diamond business has always functioned on relationships as much as regulation. Trust remains its invisible currency. That is why credibility matters so profoundly today. Once confidence weakens, rebuilding it becomes far more difficult than preserving it in the first place.
The KP Intersessional Meeting comes at a time when the global diamond industry is being asked important questions about its future. These conversations should not be viewed defensively. They should be seen as opportunities to reinforce the enduring value proposition of natural diamonds and the systems that support responsible trade.
The Kimberley Process was created to restore confidence in diamonds during a period of global concern. Its responsibility now is larger: to ensure that confidence remains durable in a far more demanding and interconnected world.
That task belongs to all stakeholders across the pipeline.