Address by  Shri Arvind C. Parikh, President of Diamond Exporters' Association Ltd.

Mr. Chairman, Chief Guest Bakulbhai, dignitaries on dais, friends, colleagues and students

Today is the epoch making day for our industry as four leading institutes in our trade has collaborated with Gemmological Institute of India for Research & Development which is very very important in today's prevailing market.

I must thank Shri Ashishbhai for giving this very nice discussion on the technical aspect of the treated diamonds. You must be well aware that the technology has taken our Industry to great heights but it had its pit falls also. Some time ago HPHT Diamonds were presented to the world and now we hear that synthetic diamonds have also been marketed to some extent. There is nothing wrong in developing new techniques but when the same is marketed it should be with full disclosure so the consumers are not kept in dark about the differences in natural diamonds, HPHT treated diamonds & synthetic diamonds. The formation of this enlarged body we have to make big investment in the latest instrument, train people to use them so efficiently to create confidence in buyers and consumers about the authenticity of the goods purchased by them, by giving them internationally accredited certificates when asked for.

The entire trade will have to support these efforts. To continue the confidence the trade has created over the last several decades in the international market. I am sure the trade will keep up the high reputation which has created world wide which has ethics, standard and trust, I wish the newly formed body all the success & whole hearted support from the Diamond Exporters' Association Ltd.

Thank you