The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) Intersessional Meeting 2019 kicked off in Mumbai, India, on Monday, June 17 with a welcome speech by (Mr.) Alok Vardhan Chaturvedi, Director General of the Foreign Trade (DGFT) who is the current KP Chair on behalf of the government of India. The two other speakers were (Mr.) Stephane Fischler, President of the World Diamond Council and (Mr.) Shamiso Mtisi, Coordinator of the KP Civil Society Coalition. The KPCS Intersessional Meeting 2019 is organized and hosted by the Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India; and co-organized by the KP Exporting/ Importing Authority and the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).
In his opening speech, Mr. Chaturvedi said: "India, as one of the founding members of KPCS, and as KP Chair 2019, is happy, proud and privileged to host the 2019 Kimberley Process Intersessional meet in Mumbai, a city with a diamond tradition that dates back two centuries and home to the world's largest diamond exchange, the Bharat Diamond Bourse. In its 16th Year, the Kimberley Process has contributed towards peace, security and prosperity globally and India is committed to leading and enlarging the influence of the KP."
Advocating a transition from "conflict diamonds towards peace diamonds," Chaturvedi added, "Today, 99.8 percent of the world's diamonds come from conflict-free sources. The 4Cs - cut, clarity, color and carat - may soon be expanded to 5Cs with the 5th C being 'conflict-free.' And the 5Ps of diamond marketing - precious, popular, prestige, priceless - will include 'peace' diamonds," the KP Chair added.
"India, as KP Chair, would continue to work with the governments, international diamond industry and civil society towards building consensus and strengthening the KP. This KP Intersessional meet will help in creating a clear and concise core document, enhancing KP standards and modalities with peer review mechanism, raising the level of representation and participation and improving the gathering and flow of essential data amongst other key goals," Chaturvedi stated.
In addition to the presentations by the Working Group Chairs and other presentations, the KP Intersessional will feature special forums on diamond terminology and artisanal mining. The Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry will give a presentation about the pooling of resources by means of Common Facility Centres (CFCs), and the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) will present sessions on cluster mapping; on the Parichay Card - an identity, employment and social security card for gem and jewelry workers; and on and health insurance schemes.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) Intersessional Meeting 2019 is an annual mid-year event of the KPCS, which unites administrations, civil societies and diamond industry in reducing the flow of conflict diamonds used to finance wars against governments around the world. India is the KP chair for 2019 and is hosting the KP Intersessional meeting in Mumbai from 17th-21st June 2019. Representatives from 82 countries are in attendance.