The Dubai Diamond Conference  2015, held on April 21 and 22, 2015 at Almas Tower in Dubai concluded yesterday after intense panel discussions on a number of key issues afffecting the diamond trade including mining, synthetic diamonds, ethics and diamond financing, etc

The morning session, addressed by HE Dr Ahmed Albanna, Director of African Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former E.U. President Herman Van Rompuy, who inaugurated the Conference, was attended by more than 500 delegates. Albanna highlighted the increasing importance of economic and diplomatic ties between the U.A.E. and the nations of Africa.

Senior government functionaries from mining countries and companies such as South Africa's Minister of Mineral Resources, Ngoako Ramatlhodi, Angola's Minister of Geology and Mines, Francisco Queiroz, Zimbabwe's Minister of Mines and Mining, Walter K. Chidakwa, De Beers executive vice president of sightholder sales, Paul Rowley, Endiama's CEO, Carlos Sumbula, and others also spoke.

Day One ended with a panel discussing the challenges facing diamond jewelry retailers and the steps they can take to improve sales. The retail markets panel determined that all jewelers need a physical and an online operation to conduct business in today’s market. The panel members were: Amit Dhamani, Roberto Coin, Vishal Mehta, and Karim Merchant.

The first panel on the second day was on the subject of ethics, NGOs and business. Panel members were Christine Gordon, Ola Bello, Shamiso Mtisi, Edward Asscher, and Alex Yearsley.

 Later, a panel comprising Asscher,  Ernest Blom, Marc Brauner, Sabyasachi Ray, Audrey Tcherkoff, and Russell Mehta, the managing director of Rosy Blue India addressed the topic synthetic diamonds: Problem or Not at All? They agreed that it was likely there would be an increase in synthetic diamond production in the coming years that could make up for some of the predicted shortfall in diamond supply expected in the coming decade.

Peter Meeus, the chairman of the Dubai Diamond Exchange, said, “Each panel throughout both days was attended by an audience of more than 150 people and the feedback we received was extremely positive. We aimed to encourage discussion among the leaders of the diamond industry to meet the challenges of the future and we are happy to have succeeded in that.”