Global diamond traders and retailers set to take centre stage at inaugural diamond and jewellery summit

The inaugural summit will see over 800 traders and jewellery retailers converge to discuss best practices and the outlook for the global diamond industry.

The summit is a maiden venture of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) and aims to focus on the diamond consumer markets of the 21st century as well as to enhance trade relationships between the Middle East and China.

Industry experts will cover a broad range of topics, including: key trends in the evolution of the diamond industry over the past decade; the impact of synthetic and treated diamonds; Middle East markets' role in leading jewellery designs; outlook for diamond polishing; marketing strategies; and drivers of future growth, including the role of youth in boosting demand for diamonds.

The summit will also showcase the Lesotho diamond, the world's largest round, rough diamond, which was discovered earlier this year.

Members of the press will be able to view this at a press conference on November 8, 2008 at 11AM.

"The summit is a unique platform bringing together both global traders and
world-renowned jewellery retailers to discuss opportunities for growth in the diamond sector. The summit will also put the spotlight on China and the Middle East, which are set to become the new titans of the jewellery industry," said Peter Meeus, Executive Director, Diamond Division, DMCC.

"We are pleased with the level of participation and look forward to jointly addressing some of the most pertinent topics concerning the entire value chain of the industry."

Meeus added that the inaugural summit has attracted some of the world's leading brands in the jewellery industry such as Roberto Coin, Chow Tai Fook, Chow Sang Sang, Luk Fook, Damas International and Joy Alukkas amongst others.