Dubai diamond trade veteran appointed Kimberly Process chair

The UAE Ministry of Economy recently named Dubai diamond trade veteran Ahmed Bin Sulayem to be the 2016 chair of the Kimberly Process (KP).

The Kimberly Process is an 81-member international body that facilitates an international certification process for preventing the procurement, distribution and sale of conflict diamonds. The organization was formed in South Africa in 2003 and is lead by an annually rotating chair. The UAE was elected to appoint year's chair in November.

“It is a great honor to have been appointed Kimberley Process chair by both the KP and the UAE with the great responsibility to implement the KP’s vision and plans for the diamond industry in 2016," Bin Sulayem said. "The UAE will use this opportunity to focus on areas that will have the greatest impact on growth and development in addition to sustaining the core values of the organization.”

Bin Sulayem's goals include improving the KP's relationships with governments and diamond industry leaders, offering guidance, training and technical help to newer members.

Bin Sulayem, chairman of the Dubai Multi Commodities Center Authority, brings first-hand experience and leverage to his new position. Dubai's diamond industry is booming, growing from a $5 million trade in 2003 to $35 million in 2014. As chair, Bin Sulayem looks to advance the mission of the KP while also representing the UAE's role in the global diamond market.

“The UAE has supported the growth of the industry since 2003," Bin Sulayem said. "It serves the needs of producing countries and producers whilst strongly supporting the transformation of the industry from a fragmented sector to a global industry, underpinned by a significant uptick in the transparent and regulated nature of the diamond trade. Dubai has since become one of the top diamond centers in the world and we will use these learnings to provide leadership and to drive our industry forward in 2016.”