The World Federation of Diamond Bourses announced in a press release that they’re seeking younger members. The press release took place at the end of the World Diamond Congress in Antwerp, Belgium.President Ernest Blom also noted the group’s plans of developing its next generation of leaders, keeping a “watchful eye on synthetic diamonds,” and ensure unanimity in lab reports. The WFDB approved Canada and South Korea to join, with India’s Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council added as an associate member.
A new initiative called the Presidents Forum included Ernest Blom and other group residents coming together as presidents of different industry organizations and working together. Presidents Forum is working to collaborate with the Precious Stones Multi-Stakeholder Working Group in order to agree on due diligence guidelines. The meeting, hosted by CIBJO president Gaetani Cavalieri, included Blom, IDMA president Maxim Shkadov, and World Diamond Council president Edward Asscher. It was held from June 15 to 18 in Antwerp, with the next one in 2015 to be held in Ramat Gan, Israel. The next World Diamond Congress will occur in Dubai in 2016. CJ
