The executive leadership of the Diamond Dealers Club of New York, (DDC), headed by President Moshe Mosbacher, met in New York with His Excellency Abhisit Vejjajiva, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, to examine how to improve business opportunities between the American and Thai diamond and jewelry industry.



At the invitation of the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the Thai Ministry of Commerce, the DDC diamond industry delegation was invited to meet with a distinguished group of Thai government leaders to discuss the potential for the expansion of trade, including bilateral jewelry and diamond trade cooperation. In addition to the Prime Minister, the Thai delegation included H.E. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs; H.E. Don Pramudwinal, Ambassador to the United States; H.E. Norachit Sinhaseni, Ambassador to the United Nations; H.E. Alongkorn Ponlaboot, Deputy Minister of Commerce; and, other prominent officials.



Prime Minister Vejjajiva related to the DDC leaders that his government was committed to an open economy with the private sector playing a critical role. He added that Thailand deals with business in a transparent manner and he looked forward to growth in the "business relationship between Thailand and the United States" in the jewelry as well as other sectors. The Prime Minister indicated that jewelry was now Thailand's second largest category of exports.



Mr. Mosbacher informed the Prime Minister and the accompanying Thai officials that the American diamond and jewelry industry had long admired their Thai counterparts and that the more than two thousand Diamond Dealers Club members looked forward to more frequent exchanges with them. These included encouraging more commerce in both directions, particularly partnerships when feasible.



In inviting his Thai hosts to visit the Diamond Dealers Club, Mr. Mosbacher informed them that as New York is the gateway for diamonds and jewelry entering the United States, he looked forward to working with Thai business representatives to develop a comprehensive business agenda, one that proves beneficial to the diamond and jewelry industries in both countries.



The DDC executive leadership delegation consisted of Moshe Mosbacher, President; Nissan Perla, Secretary; Jacob Weinstock, Treasurer; and Dr. Martin Hochbaum, Managing Director.