H.E. Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman, Kimberley Process and Executive Chairman, DMCC, Government of Dubai along with delegation of officers paid a courtesy visit to Commerce & Industry Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman to discuss role of India and UAE in the Kimberley Process International Forum. Mr. Sulayem appreciated the contribution of India to Kimberley Process since its very inception and also extended full support to India for chairmanship of Kimberley Process in 2019.

The discussions centred around the initiatives taken by the Kimberley Process Chair like valuation of rough diamonds, preparing for challenges that industry faces from synthetics and upcoming Kimberley Process Plenary in November, 2016 at Dubai.

Smt. Sitharaman conveyed support for the good initiatives that Kimberley Process Chair had taken for strengthening Kimberley Process as a global institution. The various possibilities of strengthening trade between India and UAE were also discussed. The Chairman, Kimberley Process and Minister for Commerce & Industries expressed desire to work together for mutual benefit of diamond industry and also for strengthening Kimberley Process.

Kimberley Process collaboration to support leadership, diamond valuation standards and responses to synthetic diamond challenges. The meeting endorsed mutual support for leadership within the Kimberley Process and prioritised standardising valuation of rough diamonds, preparing responses to synthetic diamond challenges, and organising the upcoming plenary to strengthen governance, traceability and market integrity in the diamond trade.