India is stepping up its engagement with global diamond-producing countries ahead of the 2026 Kimberley Process Plenary, scheduled to take place in New Delhi from November 30 to December 4. As the Chair of the Kimberley Process (KP) for 2026, India convened a stakeholder consultation in Luanda, Angola, on November 3 to discuss responsible diamond sourcing, industry governance, regulatory compliance and consumer confidence.
The consultation was led by Shri Yashvir Singh, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce and Chair of the Kimberley Process. It brought together the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of KP Working Groups and Committees, the KP Vice-Chair Ghana and the former Chair, the United Arab Emirates.
Representatives from observer 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 meeting was organised ahead of the New Delhi Plenary and coincided with the 20th anniversary celebrations of ADPA, held in Luanda on November 3 and 4.
India Strengthens Ties With African Diamond-Producing Countries
India’s participation in the African Diamond Producers’ Association as an Observer provides an institutional platform for cooperation with African diamond-producing nations. This engagement creates opportunities for collaboration in responsible rough diamond sourcing, technical knowledge exchange, value addition, market access and sustainable industry practices.
During the consultation, the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the KP Working Bodies presented updates on their respective work plans and discussed proposals for consideration at the upcoming Plenary.
Key issues included draft administrative decisions, responsible rough diamond sourcing initiatives, improvements to the statistical reporting platform and measures to strengthen institutional governance and compliance among participating countries.
Discussions also covered the sustainability of diamond-producing countries and communities, funding and continuity of the Kimberley Process Secretariat, digitalisation of certification and statistical systems, and stronger implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
Participants exchanged views on reforming the definition of conflict diamonds, artisanal and alluvial diamond production, responsible sourcing, consumer confidence and improving reporting and peer-review mechanisms.
India’s 2026 Chairship operates under the theme of Confidence, Compliance and Credibility, which aims to strengthen trust and accountability across the international diamond industry.
Shri Yashvir Singh highlighted the importance of cooperation and consensus in addressing the industry’s challenges.
“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.”
ADPA’s 20th Anniversary Highlights India’s Cooperation With Africa
Established on November 4, 2006, in Luanda, Angola, the African Diamond Producers’ Association aims to strengthen cooperation among African countries involved in diamond production.
ADPA currently comprises 15 full member countries and eight observers, including India and the Russian Federation as its two non-African observers. Its member countries collectively account for more than 60% of global diamond production.
The association is currently chaired by Sierra Leone, represented by its Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Julius Daniel Mattai. During the 13th Extraordinary Meeting of the ADPA Council of Ministers in Luanda on November 4, Botswana was admitted as an Observer Member.
Shri Yashvir Singh also participated in the Council of Ministers meeting and the main ADPA@20 commemoration programme. He delivered a presentation titled Partnering for the Future: A Global Industry Perspective on Africa’s Diamond Future.
Speaking as India’s Kimberley Process Chair for 2026, Singh highlighted the importance of African diamond-producing countries in the global diamond value chain. He discussed how partnerships between producing nations, manufacturing centres and consumer markets could contribute to the long-term sustainability of the natural diamond industry.
He reiterated India’s three-pronged vision of Confidence, Compliance and Credibility, emphasising that consumer trust in natural diamonds, adherence to Kimberley Process minimum requirements and an inclusive certification framework are essential to ensuring that diamond resources contribute to development in producing countries.
The anniversary programme also featured discussions on the ADPA Sustainable Diamond Standard, the ADPA Business Council, sustainability and auditing practices, industry advocacy, market differentiation and measures to protect the integrity of natural diamonds.
India and ADPA Sign MoU to Strengthen Diamond Industry Cooperation
An important outcome of the 13th Extraordinary Meeting of the ADPA Council of Ministers was the approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India’s Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and ADPA.
The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between India’s gem and jewellery industry and African diamond-producing countries.
Its areas of collaboration include capacity building and skills development in diamond sorting, valuation and manufacturing, the exchange of technical expertise, and the promotion of trade and investment partnerships across the diamond value chain.
The agreement is expected to provide a framework for greater cooperation between African producers and India’s diamond manufacturing and trading industry.
New Delhi to Host Kimberley Process Plenary From November 30
The discussions in Luanda will contribute to preparations for the upcoming Kimberley Process Plenary in New Delhi, scheduled from November 30 to December 4, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam.
The main Plenary will be preceded by the New Delhi Diamond Dialogue, also known as the KP Forum, on November 29. Associated programme engagements will continue through December 5.
India will host the Kimberley Process Plenary for the third time, having previously held the Chairship in 2008 and 2019.
Established following United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56 in 2000, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) aims to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate international rough diamond trade.
The initiative operates through a three-way partnership involving 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 rotates annually among participating countries, with India assuming the position on January 1, 2026.
The upcoming New Delhi Plenary will provide an opportunity for participating countries and industry stakeholders to discuss responsible sourcing, certification standards, institutional reforms and the future of the global diamond trade.
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Sridhar P