Day One – Sustainable Growth

Two major industry issues were discussed on the first day of DDC – ‘Uniting the industry to accelerate initiatives driving the sustainable development agenda forward’, and ‘How diamonds fit in the new era of millennials’. The first panel discussion on sustainability had an ensemble panel comprising of Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, chairman, Global Compact Foundation, Ernie Blom, president, World Federation of Diamond Bourses, Andrew Bone, Executive Director, Responsible Jewellery Council,FerielZerouki, head of government and industry relations, De Beers Group of Companies; Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, president, CIBJO, The World Jewellery Confederation, Praveenshankar Pandya, chairmen, Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), and David Bouffard, vice-president – corporate affairs, Signet Jewelers Ltd.

While commenting on the topic, Blom says, “The consumer of todaywants to understand what value that the products they are buying – be it gold or diamond – brings to the community from where it was mined. And, I think it’s important for us to bring that across to the consumers.”

Moody-Stuart, Vice Chairman, Compact opines, “I think the diamond industry is the major contributor to the development. It’s at the core of some country’s economy. And, it’s important to make sure the development is embedded in communities sothat it has wide benefit. The benefit should not go to a few people in the capital. It should impact lives.”

The second panel discussion on how diamonds fit in the new era of millennials took place soon after a presentation from Jean-Marc Lieberherr, CEO, Diamond Producers Association CEOon their works to promote diamond jewellery sales, particularly among younger buyers. The panel discussion boasted of names like Lieberherr, Amit Dhamani, CEO and managing director, Dhamani Jewels, Rajiv Mehta, director, Dimexon International and KoliaNeveux, managing director – Middle East & Africa, Bulgari. They spoke about the importance of attracting millennials. According to Lieberherr, the DPA’s research showed that millennials were looking for authenticity in their lives, and diamonds were seen by them as representing something real.