Dubai: The delegation, led by Mr. Siddharth Mahajan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, and consisted Mr. R. Arulanandan, Director and Mr. Sabyasachi Ray Executive Director and team from GJEPC, participated in discussions in order to promote conflict-free rough diamond trade. India’s proactive engagement with the KP process highlights our dedication to upholding ethical sourcing practices, combating conflict diamonds, and ensuring the sustainability of the global diamond industry. A significant achievement during the plenary was acceptance of India’s membership in the Working Group on Artisanal and Alluvial Production (WGAAP). This marks an important step in India’s support to the welfare of African diamond mining community. Also India, as team for Compliance and Governance, played a pivotal role relating reforms in co chair concept and continue to be an important player in other areas of ongoing reforms within this UN mandated KP body.

India welcomed the total lifting of embargo on exports of rough diamonds from Central African Republic (CAR). This reiterates the effectiveness of KP as a process in bringing order in countries and see to it that the revenue from rough diamond sales are used for upliftment of the very people to whom it belongs. India is the largest cutting and polishing country in the world, contributing to a million workforce. The Indian delegation has engaged bilaterally with USA, Russia, African Diamond Producers Association, Democratic Republic of Congo and others. Engagement in such global forums is critical to ensuring resilience in supply chain of rough diamonds.