Israel's Prime Minister , Benjamin Netanyahu , is to host a delegation of the participants in the 2015 Presidents' Meeting at the Prime Minister's official residence in Jerusalem at the close of the three-day event.
The Presidents' Meeting delegation will discuss the numerous challenges that are affect ing the entire diamond pipeline, including rough suppl ies , the disconnect between rough and polished diamond prices, the need for broader and more diverse industry financing, the quest for a solution to uniform diamond grading parameters and the need for an encompassing global, generic diamond promotion and advertising campaign among consumers.
Israel Diamond Exchange President Shmuel Schnitzer, who is also an Honorary WFDB President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), noted that a very large number of the leaders and delegates of the 30 diamond bourses affiliated to the WFDB , as well as of the 16 members of the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) , will be attending the 2015 Presidents' Meeting at the Tel Aviv Hilton hotel from June 14-16.
The attendees will include WFDB President Ernest Blom, IDMA President Maxim Shkadov, World Diamond Counc il President Edward Asscher , CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri, Diamond Dealers Club of New York President Reuven Kaufman , Bharat D iamond Bourse President Anoop Mehta, Antwerp Diamond Bourse President Marcel Pruwer, Chairman of the World Jewelry Hub at the Panama Diamond Exchange and Honorary WFDB President Eli Izhakoff, De Beers Group CEO Philippe Mellier, and De Beers Executive Vice President Paul Rowley, and ALROSA P resident Andrey Zharkov .
In addition, there will be large governmental delegations from African diamond-producing countries such as Botswana, DR Congo, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
"We are pleased with , and heartened by the support of , so many major players and good friends in the international diamond industry and trade who will be joining us in Tel Aviv for this important meeting," said IDE President Shmuel Schnitzer.
"There is a good measure of work to be done and with this strong delegation of participants, I am confident that we will take significant strides toward renewed growth of our industry, throughout the entire supply pipeline."
