India
Holds Kimberley Process Stakeholder Consultation in Angola Ahead of New Delhi
Plenary; GJEPC–ADPA MoU Approved
Ø
India
Advances Global Diamond Industry Agenda Ahead of Kimberley Process Plenary
Ø
India’s
Observer Status in ADPA Strengthens Engagement with Diamond-Producing Countries
1.
India’s Stakeholder Consultation – 3 November 2026
·
India, as Chair of the Kimberley Process (KP) for
2026, convened a stakeholder consultation in Luanda, Angola.
·
The consultation was led by Yashvir
Singh, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce and KP Chair.
·
Participants included:
o
Chairs and Vice-Chairs of KP Working Groups and
Committees.
o
KP Vice-Chair, Republic of Ghana.
o
Former KP Chair, United Arab Emirates.
o
World Diamond Council.
o
KP Civil Society Coalition.
o
Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) at RESOLVE.
o
African Diamond Producers’ Association (ADPA).
·
The meeting was held ahead of the KP Plenary in New
Delhi (30 November–4 December 2026).
2. Key
Issues Discussed
·
Responsible sourcing of rough diamonds and
strengthening supply-chain integrity.
·
Institutional governance and participant
compliance.
·
Reform of the definition of conflict diamonds.
·
Sustainability of diamond-producing countries and
communities.
·
Sustainable funding and continuity of the KP
Secretariat.
·
Digitalisation of certification and statistical
reporting systems.
·
Artisanal and alluvial diamond production.
·
Consumer confidence in natural diamonds.
·
Strengthening reporting, peer-review and compliance
mechanisms.
3.
Proposals for New Delhi Plenary
KP Working Bodies presented progress on their respective work plans and
identified matters for consideration, including:
·
Draft Administrative Decisions.
·
Initiatives for responsible rough diamond sourcing.
·
Improvements to the KP statistical reporting
platform.
·
Strengthening institutional governance.
·
Measures to improve participant compliance.
4.
India's KP Chairship Theme
·
India's 2026 Chairship
theme is “Confidence, Compliance and Credibility” (3Cs).
·
India emphasised:
o
Building consumer confidence in natural diamonds.
o
Ensuring compliance with KP minimum requirements.
o
Maintaining a credible and inclusive Kimberley Process.
o
Promoting consensus-based decision-making and
practical outcomes.
5.
India's Engagement with ADPA
·
India holds Observer status in the African Diamond
Producers’ Association (ADPA).
·
ADPA provides a platform for cooperation with
African diamond-producing countries in:
o
Securing rough diamond supply chains.
o
Technical knowledge exchange.
o
Diamond value addition.
o
Market access.
o
Ethical and sustainable practices.
6.
ADPA@20 – 20th Anniversary Celebrations
·
ADPA celebrated its 20th anniversary in Luanda on 3–4
November 2026.
·
Established on 4 November 2006, ADPA comprises:
o
15 effective member countries.
o
8 Observer countries, including India and Russia.
o
Member countries account for over 60% of global
diamond production.
·
ADPA is currently chaired by Sierra Leone.
·
Botswana was admitted as an Observer Member on 4
November 2026.
7.
India's Presentation on Africa's Diamond Future
·
Yashvir Singh
delivered a presentation titled “Partnering for the Future: A Global
Industry Perspective on Africa’s Diamond Future” on 4 November 2026.
·
He highlighted:
o
The central role of African producers in the global
diamond value chain.
o
Partnerships between producing countries,
manufacturing centres and consumer markets.
o
Sustainability of the natural diamond sector.
o
The importance of the 3Cs in protecting the
integrity and credibility of the diamond industry.
8.
GJEPC–ADPA Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
·
The 13th Extraordinary Meeting of the ADPA Council
of Ministers approved an MoU between:
o
Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council
(GJEPC), India, and
o
African Diamond Producers’ Association (ADPA).
·
Key areas of cooperation:
o
Capacity building and skills development.
o
Training in diamond sorting, valuation and
manufacturing.
o
Exchange of technical expertise.
o
Promotion of trade and investment linkages across
the diamond value chain.
·
Objective: Strengthen cooperation between India's
gem and jewellery industry and African diamond-producing countries.
9.
Upcoming Kimberley Process Meetings in New Delhi
·
New Delhi Diamond Dialogue (KP Forum): 29 November
2026.
·
KP Plenary: 30 November–4 December 2026.
·
Venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
·
Associated programme engagements will continue
until 5 December 2026.
·
India will host the KP Plenary for the third
time, having previously chaired the Process in 2008 and 2019.
10. About
the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS)
·
Established pursuant to UN General Assembly
Resolution 55/56 (2000).
·
Objective: Prevent conflict diamonds from entering
the legitimate rough diamond trade.
·
Operates through a tripartite framework comprising:
1.
Governments.
2.
Diamond industry.
3.
Civil society.
·
Currently has 60 Participants representing 86
countries.
·
The European Union and its Member States
participate as a single entity.
·
KP Chairship rotates
annually among participating countries.
·
India assumed the 2026 Chairship
on 1 January 2026.
Significance: India's Chairship and the GJEPC–ADPA MoU strengthen India's
strategic engagement with African diamond-producing countries, promote
responsible sourcing and value-chain integration, and reinforce India's
position as a major global diamond manufacturing and trading centre.
India,
as Chair of the Kimberley Process (KP) for 2026, convened a stakeholder consultation
in Luanda, Angola, on 3 November 2026, bringing together the Chairs and Vice-Chairs
of KP Working Groups and Committees (KP Working Bodies), the KP Vice-Chair, Republic
of Ghana, and the former KP Chair, United Arab Emirates. The consultation, led by
KP Chair and Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Yashvir
Singh, focused on key priorities concerning the global diamond industry, including
responsible rough diamond sourcing, institutional governance, compliance and consumer
confidence. Representatives of Observers and partner organisations, including the
World Diamond Council, KP Civil Society Coalition, Diamond Development Initiative
(DDI) at RESOLVE and the African Diamond Producers’ Association (ADPA), also participated.
The engagement formed part of India's outreach ahead of the KP Plenary to be held
in New Delhi from 30 November to 4 December 2026. The consultation was held on the
sidelines of the 20th anniversary celebrations of ADPA
(ADPA@20), held in Luanda on 3–4 November 2026.
India
has Observer status in ADPA, providing an institutional platform for engagement
with African diamond-producing countries. This offers opportunities for cooperation
in securing rough diamond supply chains, technical knowledge exchange, value addition,
market access and the promotion of ethical and sustainable practices.
The
Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the KP Working Bodies shared updates on progress against
their respective work plans and outlined matters proposed for consideration at the
Plenary. These included draft Administrative Decisions, initiatives relating to
responsible rough diamond sourcing, improvements to the statistical reporting platform,
and measures to strengthen institutional governance and participant compliance.
The consultation also provided an opportunity to identify matters requiring further
coordination and areas where early convergence could support the work of the Plenary.
Reaffirming
India's KP Chairship theme of Confidence, Compliance and
Credibility, the consultation provided an opportunity for an open exchange on the
status and evolving priorities of the global diamond industry. Discussions covered
the sustainability of diamond-producing countries and communities, sustainable funding
and continuity of the KP Secretariat, digitalisation of certification and statistical
processes, and strengthening compliance with the Kimberley Process Certification
Scheme. Participants also exchanged views on the reform of the conflict diamond
definition, responsible sourcing, artisanal and alluvial diamond production, consumer
confidence and the importance of effective reporting and peer-review mechanisms.
Additional
Secretary, Department of Commerce, and KP Chair, Yashvir
Singh, said, “India’s Chairship places emphasis on Confidence,
Compliance and Credibility. The consultation in Luanda provided an opportunity to
engage directly with the leadership of the KP Working Bodies, the KP Vice-Chair
and Observers on issues that are important to the future of the Process and the
diamond industry. Our endeavour is to build a shared understanding of the issues
before the New Delhi Plenary and to advance practical outcomes through constructive
dialogue and consensus-based decision-making.”
The
African Diamond Producers’ Association (ADPA), established on 4 November 2006 in
Luanda, Angola, seeks to enhance cooperation among African diamond-producing nations.
ADPA comprises 15 effective member countries and 8 Observers, including two non-African
Observers, namely the Russian Federation and India. Its member countries collectively
account for over 60 per cent of global diamond production. ADPA is currently chaired
by the Republic of Sierra Leone, represented by Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources,
Hon. Julius Daniel Mattai. On 4 November 2026, Botswana
was admitted as an Observer Member of ADPA during the 13th Extraordinary Meeting
of the ADPA Council of Ministers held in Luanda.
On
4 November 2026, Yashvir Singh, participated in the Council of Ministers
and main commemoration programme of ADPA@20 and delivered a presentation titled
“Partnering for the Future: A Global Industry Perspective on Africa’s Diamond Future”.
Speaking as KP Chair (India) 2026, he underlined the central place of African producing
countries in the global diamond value chain and outlined how partnership between
producers, manufacturing centres and consumer markets can support the long-term
sustainability of the natural diamond sector. Drawing on India’s vision of the 3Cs
– Confidence, Compliance and Credibility – he highlighted that consumer confidence
in natural diamonds, robust compliance with KP minimum requirements and a credible,
inclusive Kimberley Process are essential to ensuring that diamond resources continue
to contribute to development in producing countries.
The
programme brought together representatives of African diamond-producing countries,
industry and other stakeholders to mark ADPA’s two decades of engagement. Sessions
included discussions on the ADPA Sustainable Diamond Standard and the ADPA Business
Council, perspectives on sustainability and audit practices, and deliberations on
protecting the integrity of natural diamonds, industry advocacy, market differentiation
and consumer confidence.
The
13th Extraordinary Meeting of the ADPA Council of Ministers, held alongside the
20th anniversary celebrations, approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between
the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), India, and ADPA. The MoU
seeks to strengthen cooperation between the Indian gem and jewellery industry and
African diamond-producing countries, including through capacity building and skills
development in diamond sorting, valuation and manufacturing, exchange of technical
expertise, and the promotion of trade and investment linkages across the diamond
value chain.
The
discussions in Luanda will advance preparations for the KP Plenary in New Delhi,
scheduled from 30 November to 4 December 2026 at Bharat Mandapam. The KP Plenary
will be preceded by the New Delhi Diamond Dialogue (KP Forum) on 29 November 2026,
with associated programme engagements extending through 5 December 2026. India will
host the KP Plenary for the third time, following its previous Chairships in 2008 and 2019.
The
Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), established pursuant to United Nations
General Assembly Resolution 55/56 (2000), is an international initiative aimed at
preventing conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate rough diamond trade. The
KP operates through a tripartite framework comprising Governments, the diamond industry
and civil society. It currently has 60 Participants representing 86 countries, with
the European Union and its Member States participating as a single entity. The Chairship of the Kimberley Process rotates annually among its
participating countries, and India assumed the Chairship
on 1 January 2026.