The inaugural Kimberley Process Secretariat was launched in Gaborone, Botswana, under the chairmanship of Ahmed Bin Sulayem, CEO of DMCC. The Secretariat will enhance operational continuity and support for the KP community, ensuring that diamonds are developed responsibly. The event was attended by various international representatives and marked a commitment to combat conflict diamonds while promoting positive impacts on African economies.
The Kimberley Process (KP), chaired by Ahmed Bin Sulayem, the CEO and Executive Chairman of DMCC, inaugurated its inaugural Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana. This historic office will support KP’s operational efficiency, ensuring continuity and institutional memory for its working groups and member nations, with an initial workforce of up to five employees led by Mr. Bojun Tang. The opening ceremony was attended by numerous officials, including Botswana’s Honorable Minister of Minerals and Energy, Mr. Lefoko Moagi, and saw attendance from representatives of various nations, including Angola, China, the EU, and others. Chairman Ahmed Bin Sulayem emphasized the significance of this launch as a pivotal moment for the diamond trade and the Kimberley Process itself, affirming a strong commitment to harnessing diamonds for positive impacts on African development. He noted the KP’s international framework consisting of 59 control nodes that oversee the diamond trade to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the market. Botswana officials echoed the sentiment, marking the establishment of the KP Secretariat as an important milestone in the certification scheme’s evolution while stressing collaborative efforts to ensure its success despite global geopolitical challenges. Under its initiative as ‘Year of Delivery’ chair, the UAE aims to address political impasses through tangible actions, reinforcing the importance of the KP’s role in regulating the diamond trade. The KP was established in 2003 by the United Nations with the mission of preventing conflict financing through the diamond industry, comprising 85 member countries and associated control nodes. Notably, the UAE holds the distinction of being the first Arab nation to chair the KP. The KP framework in the UAE operates under the Ministry of Economy, where DMCC oversees diamond trade regulations, having reported significant growth in this sector in the previous year.
The Kimberley Process (KP) is an international effort established in 2003 to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds. It involves 85 member countries and 59 designated control nodes responsible for ensuring the transparency and legitimacy of the diamond trade. The KP is crucial in regulating and maintaining the integrity of the diamond market, particularly to inhibit the flow of unregulated rough diamonds that may be used to fund conflicts. The establishment of a Secretariat in Botswana represents a significant advancement in coordinating efforts and reinforcing the operational capacities of the KP.
The inauguration of the KP Secretariat in Gaborone signifies a transformative step for the Kimberley Process, enhancing its ability to uphold integrity and transparency in the diamond trade. It reinforces the collaborative commitment of member nations to effectively address challenges while promoting the responsible management of diamond resources for the benefit of communities across Africa. The UAE’s leadership in this initiative underscores its dedication to fostering ongoing developments within the diamond industry global landscape.
Original Source: www.zawya.com
