Diamond Groups Call Off Israel Summit

RAPAPORT... Industry leaders have canceled next month's World Diamond Congress in TelAviv, citing low registration and the likely impact ofgeopolitical tensions in the region. The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and theInternational Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) meet at the congressevery other year to discuss industry issues. This year's event was due to takeplace in the Israeli city from June 19 to 21. "It is obviously with very great regret that we have reachedthe decision to cancel the congress," WFDB president Ernie Blom and IDMApresident Ronnie VanderLinden said in a joint statement Thursday. "We had afull agenda of issues regarding the state of the global diamond industry, andpreparations were in full swing." The decision to cancel was in the best interests of everyoneconcerned, Blom and VanderLinden added. The congress will take place at a later, as-yet-undetermineddate, they said. The Tel Aviv edition was set to feature a discussion on howtechnology could aid the diamond industry.Image: Israel Diamond Exchange, Ramat Gan. Credit: Mordechai Meiri/Shutterstock