At the recently concluded Plenary Meeting of the Kimberly Process (KP) which was held in Brisbane, Australia from December 9-14, 2017, India was appointed as the Vice-Chair of the KP for the year 2018.
While the European Union (EU) will take the Chair for 2018, India will assume the role of the KP Chair in 2019.
This is in some measure a recognition of both, the size and importance of the Indian diamond manufacturing industry; as well as the significant contribution and leading role played by the country in the work of KP.
Another significant development for India at the Brisbane Plenary was its selection as Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Review & Reforms (AHCRR), which is slated to steer the reform process for the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
Angola will be the Vice Chair of the Adhoc Committee and will work with India and other members of the Committee (which include Past Chairing countries & Civil Society, WDC, ADPA, DDI etc) on the issues related to changes in the core document, expansion of scope of the KP, permanent secretariat office, multi-donor fund issues etc.
India was represented at the KP Plenary by a delegation comprising Government officials and GJEPC representatives, led by Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I), Government of India (GoI) Shri Manoj Dwivedi and Sanjay Shah, Convener, Diamond Panel Committee, GJEPC.
“Ever since the inception of KPCS, India has been actively involved in the organisation and is strongly committed to pragmatic reforms for a stronger, transparent and inclusive KP,” commented Shri Dwivedi, JS, MoC&I, GOI. “As Chair of the newly constituted AHCRR, India sincerely hopes that the committee will come up on all fronts and set up the agenda. This will also help India in gearing up to take responsibilities as Chair in 2019.”
Meanwhile, the country also played its role in tackling key issues before the worldwide industry.
Commented Sanjay Shah, Convener, DPC, GJEPC: “India being a responsible member of KPCS, encouraged other member countries to opt for 8-digit HS Code for synthetics diamond at National level and will also represent the matter to GOI to take up the matter with WCO to announce 6-digit HS Code worldwide to keep the natural and synthetic diamonds pipeline separate.”
India is a member of Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) since its inception and active member of various working groups representing the diamond trade of the country at several international forums.
Sabyasachi Ray, Chief Executive Director, GJEPC added: “As a nodal agency for import/export under KPCS, the GJEPC is committed to strengthen the KP in the best possible manner for the benefit of the Indian trade and world’s diamond community. For the coming two-three years, India’s role will be most important; and working under the umbrella of MoC&I, we are sure to do the best for it through consultations with other international partners.”
The Indian representation at the meet emphasised the reconciliation survey of the working group on statistics; and a system for sharing framework in KPCS to eradicate the scourge of forged certificates of KPCS to make it more secure. India proposed a system of procedure to make the peer review visits more professional and administratively efficient. Members were encouraged for introduction of measures of enforcement like My KYC Bank to enhance responsible sourcing in terms of ensuring financial transparency and giving technological solutions for differentiation between natural and lab grown diamonds by introducing affordable machines for detection to the industry.
Pic caption: Members of Indian and EU delegations at KP Plenary Meeting
News Source: gjepc.org
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