The Israeli Diamond Industry is planning to have a significant presence at BASELWORLD 2009, with 18 Israeli diamond exporters participating in this key show

In addition, the Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI) will once again have a prominent information and image booth in Hall 3.1, NO1. The Israeli diamond companies will exhibit for the most part in Hall 3, where the loose diamond category is concentrated.



As in previous years IDI will host its press conference, but this time it will be a press lunch instead of breakfast. Eli Avidar, IDI Managing Director, will unveil IDI’s new strategic marketing campaign, aimed at supporting the Israeli Diamond Industry’s international trading partners. In addition, the event will feature guest speaker John Peters, Jewelry.com COO, who will speak about the power of the Internet in marketing diamonds and jewelry.

IDI sources say that large turnout of Israeli companies at the show, despite the economic downturn, shows the importance that the Israeli Diamond Industry attributes to this show. It also points to the strength and vitality of the industry during these times.



An online mini-site, which can be accessed through the IDI portal site, enables buyers to access the Israeli exhibitors virtually before the show. The mini-site includes contact details of all Israeli exhibitors, as well as a link to the website of each company.



Most of the Israeli exhibitors are looking forward to an active show in Basel. Lior Eshed of Gemstar-Eshed Diam, which specializes in large stones, said that they expect a lot of traffic and some transactions. “Basel always attracts buyers of large stones. I don’t see any reason for that to change this year. Of course the level of sales will be less than last year, which was a record year for Basel,” he said. Eshed added that there is movement in the market although it is slower than in previous years. “In the past month and a half we are beginning to feel more demand, but the market is still very unstable and there is a lot of uncertainty about prices.” In some items, however, Eshed said that prices are beginning to stabilize.