Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) President Yair Sahar has praised the development and timetable of the US/International Diamond Week to take place March 17-20.
"What started out as a local initiative has become a global event, with more than 100 foreign firms and almost 200 Israeli companies registered for the event," Sahar said.
The Steering Committee for the US/International Diamond Week under the chairmanship of IDE Managing Director Moti Besser met on March 13 for the latest weekly meeting regarding the detailed planning for the event. During the past month, the committee has met three times a week to develop the event.
Its members include Moti Fluk who is IDE vice-president and chairman of the Finance Committee, diamantaire Ami Parter, IDE Control Committee representative Gili Messika or Shaul Yitzhaki, the IDE's vice managing director Irit Ben-Shachar, security manager Yisrael Vintzovsky, the IDE's deputy accountant Gadi Shtein, and director of IT Yuval Gur Arie, the assistant to the managing director of IDE enterprises Mati Ashrov, Dana Oren who is Moti Besser's assistant, Ya'akov Almor, Albert Robinson, Doron Beita, deputy Diamond Controller Sigal Shindlovski, the team from PR company Together, the marketing and communications team from the Israel Diamond Institute (IDI) – Nissim Palomo, Orna Hite, Sharon Geffen, Shelly Dahan and Shiri Madmon.
More than 100 foreign firms and almost 200 Israeli companies registered for the event
Sahar said: "We are talking about an international scale event of the greatest importance to the Israeli diamond sector. Starting out as a local initiative, it has gained tremendous momentum and has become a global size event. Now that we know the number of companies that have registered to take part is more than 100, we are looking forward to a dynamic and exciting diamond week event.
"I would like to point out for special thanks the excellent cooperation that we have received from the IDI team under the leadership of Chairman Moti Ganz and Managing Director Eli Avidar."
During the meeting, the timetable of events was laid out, as well as the planning of the space for the 180 Israeli companies taking part, under the leadership of Moti Fluk together with Mati Ashrov and Irit Ben-Shachar, and the design of the Trading Hall during the Diamond Week.
On Thursday, March 14, work will begin on turning the Trading Hall into an international meeting place between the Israeli companies and overseas guests. Merlin Productions, under the leadership of Dotan Uziel and with the help of Liat Noy, will take care of designing the Trading Hall and setting up the stalls of the firms taking part, as well registering foreign participants. The firm will also liaise with hotels where the guests will be staying as well as assisting with events that are planned during the week.
IDE Security Manager Yisrael Vintzovsky is in charge of all elements of the security for the event, and particularly for the installation of cameras in the Trading Hall and the beefing up of his team's activities during the Diamond Week.
Director of IT Yuval Gur Arie is strengthening the power of the Wi-Fi system in the public areas and is coordinating the teams filming and documenting the event. And the overall co-ordinator who is in touch around the clock with Israeli and foreign firms, companies who are giving sponsorship for the event, and all the other elements of producing the Diamond Week is Dana Oren.
As of now, 100 foreign firms have registered and almost 200 Israeli companies. The amount of goods being offered for sale and expected to change hands is estimated at more than $1 billion.
Sahar expressed his optimism regarding the final planning for the event, and said: "I expect a rise in the number of foreign diamond buyers as they will not want to miss such an excellent opportunity to have exposure to such a wide and large assortment of diamonds concentrated in one place at their convenience."
