Ø Kimberley Process Meeting Focuses on
Monitoring, Compliance and Sustainable Diamond Trade
·
The
Kimberley Process Intersessional Meeting 2026 began in Mumbai under India’s chairship and will run from May 11 to May 14, 2026.
·
The
meeting has brought together representatives from Kimberley Process member
countries, observers, industry bodies and civil society groups to discuss
issues related to global natural diamond trade.
·
Suchindra Misra said the Kimberley Process has
played a major role in:
o supporting peace,
o protecting livelihoods,
o and strengthening legitimate diamond trade
globally.
·
He
stressed the need to:
o strengthen trust in the certification
system,
o improve cooperation among participants,
o and keep the Kimberley Process relevant in
a changing global environment.
·
Misra
also described natural diamonds as a sustainable product and called the
Kimberley Process one of the world’s most progressive certification systems.
·
Working
groups and committees will discuss:
o implementation of the Kimberley Process
Certification Scheme (KPCS),
o compliance and monitoring mechanisms,
o artisanal and alluvial diamond production,
o trade statistics,
o and measures to improve trust in the
natural diamond supply chain.
·
Participants
are also expected to discuss:
o emerging challenges in the diamond trade,
o collaborative solutions,
o and ways to improve consumer confidence in
ethically sourced diamonds.
·
India’s
chairship theme is based on the “3Cs”:
o credibility,
o compliance,
o consumer confidence.
·
The
focus is on strengthening responsible sourcing and the long-term future of
natural diamonds through international cooperation and dialogue.
·
The
Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was created following the United Nations
General Assembly Resolution 55/56 adopted in 2000.
·
Its
main objective is to prevent “conflict diamonds” from entering the legitimate
global diamond market.
·
The
Kimberley Process currently includes:
o 60 participants,
o representing 86 countries,
o with the European Union participating as a
single bloc.
·
India
assumed the chairship of the Kimberley Process on
January 1, 2026.
·
As one
of the world’s largest centres for diamond cutting and polishing, India plays a
major role in the global diamond value chain.
·
India
says its leadership reflects its commitment to:
o responsible sourcing,
o transparency,
o sustainability,
o and ethical diamond trade practices.
The
Kimberley Process (KP) Intersessional Meeting 2026 commenced in Mumbai under
India’s Chair. The meeting, being held from May 11 to May 14, 2026, has brought
together representatives from Kimberley Process Participants, Observers and
industry stakeholders from across the world to deliberate on key issues related
to the global trade in natural diamonds.
Addressing
the gathering, KP Chair 2026, Shri Suchindra Misra,
stated that the Kimberley Process has played an important role in supporting
peace, protecting livelihoods and strengthening legitimate diamond trade across
producing nations. He emphasised the need to further strengthen trust in the
system, enhance cooperation among participants and ensure that the Kimberley
Process remains relevant and effective in a changing global environment. He
also highlighted that natural diamonds represent a sustainable product and that
the Kimberley Process continues to remain one of the most progressive
certification systems globally.
The
Intersessional Meeting will include discussions and meetings of various Working
Groups and Committees over the coming days. The deliberations will focus on
implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, monitoring and
compliance mechanisms, artisanal and alluvial diamond production, statistics
and measures aimed at strengthening trust in the natural diamond value chain.
The proceedings of the Intersessional Meeting will continue till May 14, 2026.
The
meeting is also expected to provide an opportunity for Participants and
Observers to exchange views on emerging challenges and collaborative approaches
for enhancing consumer confidence in ethically sourced natural diamonds.
Senior
officials of the Department of Commerce, Government of India, representatives
from Kimberley Process Participants, members of the World Diamond Council,
Civil Society Coalition members and other stakeholders are participating in the
Intersessional Meeting.
India’s
Chairship theme for 2026 focuses on the 3Cs —
credibility, compliance and consumer confidence in the natural diamond sector
with emphasis on strengthening the future of responsibly sourced natural
diamonds through constructive dialogue and international collaboration.
The
Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), established pursuant to the
United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56 (2000), is an international
initiative aimed at preventing the flow of conflict diamonds into the
legitimate diamond trade. At present, the Kimberley Process has 60 Participants
representing 86 countries, with the European Union and its Member States
participating as a single bloc.
India
assumed the Chairship of the Kimberley Process on
January 1, 2026, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening responsible
sourcing, transparency and sustainability in the global diamond sector. As one
of the world’s leading centres for diamond cutting and polishing, India continues
to play an important role in advancing the objectives of the Kimberley Process.