Team Blitz India
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates has officially assumed the chairmanship of the Kimberley Process (KP), a crucial United Nations initiative aimed at preventing conflict diamonds from infiltrating the global rough diamond market. Ahmed Bin Sulayem, the Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC, is undertaking the role of KP Chair for the second time, having previously chaired in 2016.
In 2024, Ahmed Bin Sulayem will lead the KP and its representation of 85 countries through a ‘Year of Delivery,’ overseeing vital initiatives and workstreams.
This includes the operationalisation of the permanent secretariat in Botswana, initially proposed by the UAE in 2016; the completion of the review and reform cycle led by Angola; and the future-proofing of the KP’s operational structure. This involves transitioning the current paper-based KP certificates onto the blockchain, ensuring security against forgery and counterfeiting.
During the 2023 plenary session hosted by the outgoing chair, Zimbabwe, Ahmed Bin Sulayem expressed the importance of their work in the Kimberley Process, emphasising its impact on millions of stakeholders and the collective responsibility to contribute to the stability and prosperity of economies dependent on diamond trade. As the KP Chair, his focus is clear: to enhance the KP’s autonomy and efficiency, ushering in a new era of action – a year of delivery.
Driven by trade through Dubai and the Dubai Diamond Exchange, the UAE secured its position as the world’s largest rough diamond trading hub in 2021 and is rapidly approaching the top spot for polished diamonds. In 2022, the UAE’s rough and polished diamond trade experienced 17 pc increase.
