Israel Diamond Exchange President, Yair Sahar hosted U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, who remarked that as ambassador for President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton he saw great importance in the prosperity and economic success of Israel and as a result also the prosperity of the Israel Diamond Industry.
Israel Diamond Exchange President Yair Sahar welcomed the American ambassador who arrived accompanied by his senior economic advisors – Conklin de White and Robert Forden, at his office together with other members of the Israel Diamond Exchange Directorate.
The President of the Diamond Exchange thanked the ambassador for the visit and noted the importance of maintaining good relations between the Diamond Exchange and the embassy in light of the diverse business relations between the Israel Diamond Center and the United States.
President Yair Sahar welcomes U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro
(Photo: Fuchs)
The President of the Diamond Exchange remarked to the American ambassador, "For us, this is indeed a special day and a very important visit. Israel supplies 50% of all the diamonds imported into the United States. We are strategic partners and we look forward to expanding our operations and fostering them even further." In his speech, the President of the Diamond Exchange described some of the diverse activities carried on by Diamond Exchange, in all their ramifications, to the ambassador and put special emphasis on the fact that the Diamond Exchange Complex is considered one of the safest and most secure complexes in Israel.
On a lighter note, President Sahar drew the ambassador's attention to the fact that that they had at least one thing in common: "We both got appointed to our new positions exactly on the same date – 7 July 2011."
The Diamond Exchange President and members of the Presidium with the U.S. ambassador and his advisors. (Photo: Fuchs)
Diamond Exchange CEO Yair Cohen gave the ambassador and his economic advisors a broad overview of the Israel Diamond Exchange activities while detailing all aspects of the long-standing business relationship between the Israel Diamond Exchange and the United States, considered the world's leading consumer of polished diamonds. Yair Cohen also mentioned the impact of the 2008 global economic crisis on the diamond industry and presented data illustrating how the Israel Diamond Industry successfully managed to cope in the face of the global economic crisis which gripped the world at that time.
The CEO of the Diamond Manufacturers Association, Udi Sheintal briefed the American delegation about the Kimberley Process for preventing trade in conflict diamonds, presenting the historical background of the process and the important role played by Israel over the years in its establishment and implementation.
Diamond Exchange President, Yair Sahar and Audit Committee Chairman, Shaul Isaac exhibiting diamonds to the ambassador. (Photo: Fuchs)
Sheintal also pointed out that plenary sessions of the Kimberley Process are currently taking place in Kinshasa, capital of the Republic of Congo, and very important decisions are expected to be taken during the course of the week concerning the end of the crisis surrounding the issue of Zimbabwe diamond exports, as well as regarding the appointment of a new Kimberley Process Chairman for the year 2012. According to Sheintal, the appointment is expected to awarded to the United States.
U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro thanked the President of the Diamond Exchange for the warm and hearty welcome and expressed special interest in the historical surroundings leading up to Israel's becoming a central key player in the global diamond industry.
Diamond Exchange President Yair Sahar and incoming Diamond Exchange CEO Moti Besser present the American ambassador with a gift: a miniature clay model of the Jewish seven-branched Menorah candelabrum. (Photo: Fuchs)
The U.S ambassador noted that he was very impressed by the strength and vigor of the Israel Diamond Center and the very important role it plays internationally. The ambassador said that one of the important goals of his appointment by President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was his first and foremost “to strengthen ties with Israel in every way, both on security matters as well as promoting the democratic values shared by both countries. These are the two central pillars on which our relationship rests."
According to the words of the American ambassador, the economic cooperation between Israel and the United States is of foremost importance. He added, "I intend to strengthen the economic ties in order to add an additional important pillar in the relations between the two countries. Since my appointment I have noted the strength and energy of the trade relations between Israel and the United States, especially in the diamond sector and I intend to bolster these ties."
The American ambassador and his economic advisors Conklin de White and Robert Forden. (Photo: Fuchs)
Says United States Ambassador Dan Shapiro, "President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have a tremendous interest in promoting the economic prosperity of the State of Israel, the central ally of the United States in the Middle East. We have a clear interest that Israel remains safe and that its economy flourishes and consequently the economic prosperity of the diamond industry is also a material American interest."
The American ambassador also addressed at length the issue of the Kimberley Process and Israel's important role in this process. He noted that the United States sees an important international service and contribution in the Kimberley Process. He said, "Israel plays a very important role in the implementation of the Kimberley Process and for the Americans it is very important to make sure that the industry operates under strict international regulations."
The President of the Diamond Exchange and the US ambassador examine diamonds during their tour through the Trading Hall. (Photo: Fuchs)
At the end of the meeting, the American ambassador was given the opportunity to view a showcase of absolute quality when the President of the Diamond Exchange exhibited a wide variety of special and extra expensive diamonds. Immediately thereafter, the President of the Diamond Exchange invited the ambassador and his advisors to a guided tour of the Trading Floor of the Israel Diamond Exchange where they could see firsthand not only the activities and the players but also the advanced technology of the Division of Technology, a result of the "Jewish / Israeli" mind.
Just before the end of his tour at the Israel Diamond Exchange Complex, the U.S. ambassador asked to visit the synagogue of the Israel Diamond Exchange where he was greeted by Yoram Harel Haimoff and Rabbi Hagai HaLevi who also granted the ambassador – in accordance with a custom of Chabad – a dollar bill with the inscription IN GOD WE TRUST.
Finally, the U.S. ambassador visited the Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum where he was welcomed by the managing director of the Israel Diamond Institute, Mr. Eli Avidar.
Rabbi Hagai HaLevi allots the American ambassador an "IN GOD WE TRUST" dollar bill, (Photo: Fuchs)
