Hot, hot off the presses – the government of Kazakhstan – the biggest country in central Asia and the ninth-biggest in the world - is working to establish a diamond industry.

Kazakhstan is a wealthy country, whose economy is based on oil, minerals, and agriculture. Its well-developed jewelry trade is mostly rooted in imports from Russia, Turkey, and India, and only a small part of it is locally made. But this year, the Kazakhstan government intends to develop a diamond industry so as to export to its large neighbors Russia and China.

Three representatives from Kazakhstan are participating in this week's Kimberley Process plenary meeting to make a formal request on behalf of Kazakhstan to join the KP – an indispensible step for any country seeking to start exporting rough diamonds.

The Kazakhstan representatives and dozens of other conference participants are scheduled to visit the Israeli diamond bourse today (Wednesday) to get a close-up look at the activity of the Israel diamond sector.