Mumbai: Mehul Shah, Vice President of Bharat Diamond Bourse has been elected President of World Federation of Diamond Bourses, (WFDB) the apex global body of the diamond trade comprising 26 Diamond Bourses from across the Globe and 6 affiliated members.  The election took place on Monday, July 12, during the ongoing World Diamond Congress in Singapore. 

Leaders of the 21 global diamond bourses attending the Congress voted to elect the new office bearers.

Mr. Mehul Shah was elected from among 3 candidates by a very significant majority in the very first round. Luigi Cosma, President Borsa Diamanti d’Italia, and Mr. Philippe Barsamian of Antwerp were elected Vice Presidents of WFDB. They have supported Mr. Shah’s vision for the Federation.

The election of Mr. Shah is an important milestone for the Indian diamond industry and opens a new chapter for the country to play a key role in taking the global diamond industry forward.

Thanking the delegates and Presidents of global diamond bourses, Mr. Shah said, “This is a Victory for India. I am humbled by this appointment and proud to have represented India, as Bharat Diamond Bourse and The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) on the international stage.”

“My sincere thanks also to BDB President Mr. Anoop Mehta and Mr. Shaunak Parikh, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, who guided me and were always there providing support at Singapore,” he added.

Mr. Shah also said that this new responsibility given to him is rooted in his journey of forty-six years of commitment to the natural diamond industry.

He assured the members of the industry, “As the delegates to the Congress deliberate over the way forward in a challenging global market, I am confident that the discussions in Singapore will lead to meaningful outcomes. The new leadership team at WFDB is committedto taking forward the vision of the Congress and building a stronger future for the industry.”