WFDB Names Shanghai Bourse Chief as VP

RAPAPORT... Lin Qiang has succeeded Yoram Dvash as vice president ofthe World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), with the latter taking on a newrole as head of a strategic body.Qiang has served as president of the Shanghai Diamond Exchangesince its establishment in 2000. His election at the WFDB comes after Dvashstood down earlier this year to focus on his role as president of the IsraelDiamond Exchange (IDE). Dvash remains a member of the WFDB's executive committee.He will now lead a new think tank aimed at strengthening the organization'srole in the industry and introducing initiatives to advance the global trade."We are excited to lead the world industry to greaterlevels of transparency, relevance and achievement," Dvash said in a statementearlier this week, arguing that the IDE had made major changes to advance the Israelidiamond sector."My aim in setting up the think tank is to see what we asthe WFDB can do better, what we can do to assist our members in these difficulttimes, what have we done wrong in the past, [and] where are we going," addedWFDB president Ernie Blom.Qiang's election took place at last week's World DiamondCongress in Mumbai. Members reelected Blom for a further two-year term aspresident, with the current executive committee also set to serve another twoyears.Image: Lin Qiang.