Anoop Mehta Anoop Mehta

News Release -  Mumbai, India - August 8, 2013: The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and the Bharat Diamond Bourse have confirmed their support to the implementation of the World Diamond Mark® (WDM) programme, to ensure the health and future growth of the global diamond jewellery sector. Both organisations reaffirmed India's leading role in the industry, by being the first country to actively endorse the WDM programme. The understanding was reached following talks in Mumbai between these leading industry organisations and a delegation of the World Diamond Mark Foundation (WDMF), headed by World Diamond Mark

"If you want to divert the flow of global spend on luxury, into diamonds, generic promotion through World Diamond Mark is the only answer. The World Diamond Mark will not only unite the players in the diamond pipeline, but also provide a sense of confidence among the consumers that the diamonds they are buying are legitimate. GJEPC will contribute to the WDM programme, subject to appropriate approvals," said GJEPC chairman Vipul Shah.

Vipul  Shah Vipul Shah

"The Bharat Diamond Bourse, as the largest diamond exchange in the world, sees support of the World Diamond Mark as a duty of every industry stakeholder. The BDB held a meeting of the WDM team and the BDB board, and we are delighted to be among the first to support this important initiative. It is time for the diamond manufacturing industry to act decisively, and we see the World Diamond Mark as the best solution for the industry's future," said BDB president Anoop Mehta.

"It makes all the sense in the world to begin the implementation of World Diamond Mark® (WDM) programme with the support of the largest player in the world diamond industry - India. We look forward to working with our Indian partners to enhance the position of diamonds in the luxury consumer market, and to ensure the health and growth of the industry we all cherish," said Alex Popov of World Diamond Mark Foundation.