Former US secretary of state Colin Powell is scheduled to give the keynote address at the Gala Dinner of the upcoming Antwerp Diamond Conference, to be held May 23-24 at the Waggnatie in the Antwerp Port.

This year's diamond conference is titled "Diamonds 2020: A window to the future" and is devoted to identifying and analyzing trends expected to influence the diamond industry over the next 10 years.

Key members of the business will address issues of diamond industry financing and the rough and polished diamond industries. Diamond Trading Company CEO Varda Shine will also grant an interview at which audience members will be invited to ask questions.