Yesterday afternoon, 18.5.09, the Israel Diamond Institute Portal launched its new Russian language website. This website joins the Portal’s existing ones in English, Hebrew and Chinese. The launching was marked by a press conference attended by 50 journalists, reporters, photographers and cameramen representing the Russian press, television networks and radio stations.

The event, which opened with a reception, continued with a festive lunch accompanied by a detailed presentation in Russian.

In the packed hall, Bumi (Avraham) Traub, Chairman of the IDI’s Finance Committee and member of its Board of Directors as well as Honorary President of IsDMA, gave a presentation in Russian about the Israeli Diamond Industry and the Israel Diamond Institute’s Portal, while placing emphasis on the new Russian website.

 

Traub began with an overview of the Israeli Diamond Industry and summarized its history since its establishment in the 1930’s when it became a diamond polishing center. He emphasized that the industry, which currently serves as both a trading and polishing center, is one of Israel’s leading export industries, second only to the hi-tech industry.

Traub noted that the ties between the Israeli Diamond Industry and its Russian counterpart began in the sixties. In 1992, the first exhibit of the Kremlin’s collection of Russian jewelry was brought to Israel. This exhibit constituted the first step which enabled the development of a good relationship with the Russian diamond industry over the years.

Traub added that the world diamond industry has been waiting for years for the Russian government to lower the heavy taxes on diamonds, like other world diamond centers. “If Russia lowers these taxes, as China did, the obstacles will be removed and the gateway will open for buyers and diamantaires. This will be conducive for the Russian diamond industry as well. I call on the relevant authorities to take action just as they did when they abolished the need for a visa between Russia and Israel. If the taxes are abolished it will result in an increase in the volume of trade between countries, similar to the situation with the United States.”

He added: “The IDI Portal is a vital tool which serves as a resource for all issues connected to diamond trading, the purchase of merchandise, and general information about the sector. Today there is no need to travel from place to place. The Portal eliminates the restriction of distance. In a huge country like Russia, geographically the largest in the world, distance loses its relevance. Diamond buyers can communicate with the Israeli Diamond Industry without any limitations. Business can be conducted from wherever you are located.”

Traub stated that the launch of the Russian language website is part of the IDI’s three-staged, multifaceted marketing campaign “Together Works,” under the leadership of IDI Chairman Moti Ganz, who is also the President of IDMA.

Responding to a question from a journalist, IDI Managing Director Eli Avidar, stated: “The Portal’s success is measured by the number of visits: Today we have no less than 113,000 monthly visits. Russia has several websites about diamonds but our website will post 5-7 news items daily from the world of diamonds and jewelry, as well as in-depth articles. It will offer the Russian industry easy communication with their Israeli counterparts and access to merchandise that they need. The new Russian website has a huge potential to become a central business platform on a B2B basis. I believe that the website will be highly successful.”

At the end of the presentation, a question-and-answer session was held. The Russian journalists demonstrated considerable interest in the new website, the Portal and the Israeli Diamond Industry in general.