ABN Amro & GIA support World Diamond Council meetings

The meetings, to be held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, will be hosted by the Dubai Metals and Commodities Centre (DMCC) on March 30 and 31, 2004.

GIA, the world's foremost authority in gemology, will sponsor the welcome reception for the 100 delegates arriving from all across the globe. "We are delighted to participate in the World Diamond Council meetings in Dubai. These meetings will cover important issues for the diamond industry, and the interaction between representatives from many countries, firms, and organizations is certain to be helpful. We appreciate Dubai's strong commitment to the development of the region by hosting this event," said Mr. William E. Boyajian, President of GIA, based in California.

ABN AMRO, the Dutch national bank, and one of the leading international banks in the UAE, have also confirmed their support for the meetings by sponsoring a gala dinner. The bank, a leading supporter of the global diamond industry, will also chair the banker's panel discussion focusing on the diamond trade.

"Our bank's association with the World Diamond Council meetings in Dubai is a natural extension of our interaction with the global diamond industry. ABN AMRO's involvement with the diamond trade dates back to more than 100 years, when it began financing pearl and diamond traders in Hong Kong and Japan and diamond cutters in Amsterdam," said Peter Gross, Global Head of the International Diamond and Jewellery Group of ABN AMRO.

High-ranking government officials, association representatives, miners, investors, manufacturers, and traders from various parts of the world, including South Africa, Antwerp, USA, and London are confirmed to travel to Dubai for the meetings. Nicky Oppenheimer, Chairman of DeBeers Group of Companies will be among the leading industry executives who will address the influential industry delegation over the course of the two-day meetings.

"DMCC is delighted with the unique opportunities that the 3rd Annual Meetings of the WDC will bring to the table. It is a real bonus to have the support of global industry leaders ABN AMRO and GIA on board. Between them, they have vast global diamond experience, and their attendance and support will greatly enhance the profile of this international event," said Tawfique Abdullah, CEO of DMCC.

"Hosting the World Diamond Council annual meeting here is an extremely positive step - the eyes of the diamond world will be firmly set on Dubai during that time and this esteemed delegation, which represent the key decision makers of the diamond industry world-wide, can assist us greatly in the development of our strategy going forward," added Abdullah.

The Dubai Metals and Commodities Centre (DMCC) was created in 2002 as part of a strategic goal by the Dubai Government to establish a commodity market. It provides the market infrastructure that brings together a wide range of commodities activities, and is committed to serving the needs of participants in the gold, diamonds and commodities markets. Resident companies of DMCC are offered highly attractive benefits under a free zone status, including a 50-year guaranteed tax holiday, 100 per cent business ownership, full ownership of business premises, and a secure regulated environment.