(IDEX Online) - Over 300 international buyers from 18 countries arrived in Ramat Gan for the International Diamond Week in Israel, which opened yesterday. Of these buyers, 110 were in Israel for the first time.
"This year, a record number of buyers and delegations from around the world have arrived here," said IDE president Yoram Dvash at the opening ceremony. He also noted that the total number of participants would have been larger, but many East Asian buyers could not attend.
"We are at the beginning of 2020 and we very much hope that this year will be one of recovery in the markets," he said. "In light of the reductions in rough allocation by some producers, shortages have been created and demand for certain goods has grown. This is certainly a step that will allow an adjustment in the global levels of rough and polished goods. We hope that this trend will continue in the coming months, and will create new opportunities for the world diamond industry."
Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama Hacohe attended the opening ceremony along with Israeli diamond leaders including Jacob Korn of the Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association (ISDMA), Boaz Moldawsky of the Israel Diamond Institute (IDI) and Ezra Boaron, chairman of the IDWI 2020.
A number of world diamond leaders were also in attendance including Alrosa president Sergei Ivanov; WFDB president Ernie Blom; CIBJO president Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, Bharat Diamond Bourse VP Mehul Shah, DDMC executive chairman and CEO Ahmed Bin Sulayem; London Diamond Exchange president Alan Cohen and the honorary president of the World Diamond Council, Eli Izhakoff.