The Central African Republic (CAR) has appointed industry veteran Peter Meeus as a government adviser, in line with the nation’s efforts to make its diamond sector compliant with global standards.

Meeus (pictured), as international diamond specialist and special adviser, will help CAR with its attempts to meet the Kimberley Process (KP) Certification System rules and improve the performance of its diamond sector, its government said Thursday.

Meeus is a founding member of the KP, and a former head of the organization’s team responsible for monitoring CAR’s diamond industry. He is also a former director general of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), and was president of the Dubai Diamond Exchange during the United Arab Emirates’ 2016 chairmanship of the KP, leaving the position on January 1 this year.

The KP, which aims to keep conflict diamonds out of the legitimate supply chain, banned CAR from exporting rough diamonds in 2013 after rebels took over the nation’s government. The global watchdog readmitted the country in 2016, permitting it to resume exports from certain regions that the KP deemed compliant.

“I am delighted with this appointment, which is an important step in the transformation of our diamond industry,” said Leopold Mboli Fatran, CAR’s minister of mines and geology.

The appointment comes ahead of the KP’s annual inter-sessional meeting in Antwerp next week.