Anticipation is building for the World Diamond Conference in India that will kick off December 11 at the Vigyan Bhawan convention complex in Delhi, the Indian capital. The conference is a joint effort of the World Diamond Mark Foundation (WDMF), the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and supported by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India.

"The conference comes at an important moment in the diamond industry's history," said WDMF's chairman, Alex Popov. "It will set the tone for the future of the relationship between the Russian and the Indian diamond industry and trade. For the international diamond business community, the inaugural World Diamond Conference has the potential of becoming an important milestone. Here in Delhi, the World Diamond Mark Foundation hopes the industry will take yet another step to come together under a singular, unified effort to reintroduce the generic marketing and branding of diamonds to the global consumer market. The changes, growth and diversification of the luxury consumer product market mandate such an effort, and we wish to impress that upon the participants during our discussion at the conference," Popov stated.

Popov thanked and congratulated the Indian government and the GJEPC for their support -- especially on rather short notice -- of the World Diamond Conference in India. The GJEPC is an early adopter of the WDFM's efforts and its contribution to the WDFM's mission will prove to be invaluable.

Popov lauded the contributions to the WMDF's efforts and programs. "I wish to laud and thank explicitly the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), the Turkish Jewelry Exporters Association (JTR) and IDEX Online for their support as early adopters of the WDMF and its objectives."

Meanwhile, the Indian daily and business press is giving the conference ample attention, since the event coincides with the two-day state visit of Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Both Putin and his host, Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to address the inaugural conference on December 11.

Partners for the World Diamond Conference include ALROSA as "Powered by Partner," Shree Ramakrishna Exports as gala dinner partner, Shree Harikrishna Exports as lunch partner and cosponsors: Asian Star, Rosy Blue, Dimexon, Jasani Group, KGK Diamonds, Mahendra Brothers, Karp Impex, J.B. Brothers, Sheetal Manufacturing, Dianco, Jewelex and HRD Antwerp.