Industry financing to top agenda at World Diamond Congress

“Critical” information on financing for the diamond industry will be at the top of the agenda at the 37th World Diamond Congress to be held in Dubai on 16-19 May.

The biennial meeting of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) will have finance sessions which focus on the issue of liquidity and other financing matters, according to WFDB president Ernie Blom.

It will see leading figures from the global trade tackling the subject and taking part in a panel discussion in which members of the audience will be encouraged to participate.

Erik Jens, ABN Amro Bank’s head of diamond and jewellery clients, will speak on the issue of ‘key opportunities in financing the diamond and jewellery industry’.

He will be followed by Howard Davies – De Beers’ head of commercial development – who will address the Congress on ‘global financing options and requirements for the diamond industry’.

They will then take part in a panel debate, which will be attended by the WFDB’s 30 bourse presidents and other exchange officials along with their counterparts from IDMA and more than 100 diamond industry representatives from across the diamond pipeline.

Blom said: “We believe that the speakers and panelists and the interactive discussion format during the congress will provide a comprehensive review of the nature of the financing issues affecting the diamond business and how we can best deal with them.

“Our aim is to provide a roadmap for the industry to help take it forward during these challenging times.”

He added that “for too long” industry members and the banks have “not been on the same wavelength”, with the meeting aiming to correct this for the good of both parties.”