The 6th International Diamond Week in Israel (IDWI) kicks off at the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) this week (February 13-16). The event is expected to break attendance records, hosting hundreds of buyers from more than 20 countries, including the United States, U.K., Germany, China and India.
IDE Managing Director Eli Avidar said, “We are very gratified by the huge response of buyers that have registered for our annual international diamond event. Due to the very attractive package we offer buyers – major rough and polished tenders, a large selection of polished goods, social activities and sightseeing tours, as well as free hotel nights – registration has exceeded all expectations”.
Buyers are expected to showcase huge amounts of merchandize. A new feature at IDWI is tenders of rough and polished diamonds by major producers and independent suppliers. So what exactly is expected to happen during IDWI?
GET DIAMONDS gets into action
Get Diamonds, an innovative online B2B trading platform where buyers can browse the stocks of Israeli diamond companies – members of the Israel Diamond Exchange, will be made available to buyers during IDWI. Get Diamond stations will be placed in the center of IDE’s Trading Hall, and buyers will be able to request assistance from professional attendants on site. Buyers will also be able to search diamonds offered for sale at IDWI, and the system will refer the buyer to the relevant seller. All buyers who wish to use the platform will be quickly registered on site by attendants, and equipped with user names and passwords.
According to IDE President Yoram Dvash, “Our goal is to make the 6th International Diamond Week as attractive and helpful as we can for all participants, and GET DIAMONDS makes diamond trade more efficient and can increase sales”.
New International Tender Center to officially open
The Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) will officially open the new International Tender Center on February 14. The International Tender Center is being established by IDE to consolidate under one roof as many polished and rough tenders as possible. It is housed in a specially designed state of the art facility within the IDE complex, affording optimal convenience and security. Its control system, one of the most advanced in the world, offers users an efficient, comfortable and safe process. The facility has private evaluation rooms built around a secured control room, from which every evaluation room can be observed.
According to IDE President Yoram Dvash, “Israel has become a major hub for tenders of polished and rough diamonds. We are opening the new Center to attract an even greater number of tenders. We’re confident that the benefits we offer will keep the center busy throughout the year”.
Alrosa President and Senior bourse members to discuss expanded cooperation
Alrosa President Andrey Zharkov will be a guest of honor at IDWI. While in Israel, Zharkov will meet with the leaders of IDE to discuss the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding which was signed last year. The MOU promotes cooperation between the two organizations in a variety of areas. Zharkov will also address a group of leading IDE firms where he will present Alrosa’s vision for the next several years and the challenges facing the global diamond industry.
IDE President Yoram Dvash said that he welcomes the visit of President Zharkov at the International Diamond Week. “Alrosa is a very significant player in the type of diamonds that the Israeli industry focuses on. Over the past several years Alrosa has supplied a growing quantity of such stones to the Israeli market, and we aim to expand this trade”.
Tenders my major producers
The new International Tender Center will host three major and important rough tenders by Alrosa, I. Hennig and Koin.
Alrosa will also exhibit and offer for sale polished diamonds, including an 80.59-carat round, twin 10-carat fancy intense yellow radiants and a 22.45-carat round stone. During Alrosa’s auction, the Russian miner will offer 108 single rough diamonds of 11 to 199 carats and unique white and fancy color polished diamonds of 10 to over 80 carats. Alrosa will also showcase three massive huge and unusual rough diamonds of 83.59, 90.52 and 207.28 carats on the Trading Hall of the IDE, and they will not be offered for sale.
I. Hennig Tenders will hold its second tender of polished diamonds in collaboration with the new Tender Center. As in the company’s successful tender in September, on offer will be an interesting selection of diamonds, including commercial and fine polished goods in various shapes qualities. David Kuchler, Manager of I. Hennig Tenders, said that the company is very happy to work in collaboration with the International Tender Center for the second time and is confident that the tender will be successful again. “We are going to offer an exciting buying opportunity at this tender. We will present a wide range of recycled polished goods in all sizes and qualities, including single stones, parcels, certified and uncertified goods,” he said.
Koin International Diamond Tenders will hold its first tender in Israel during IDWI.
Adam Schulman, Koin International CEO, said, “We are delighted to expand our rough and polished diamond operations to Israel, and look forward to a successful week for buyers and sellers”.
Not just business
The Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) is inviting international diamond buyers to combine business with pleasure. This year, the IDWI organizers are planning an active social program, including a gala reception, a morning cultural program for spouses, and free tours to either Jerusalem or the Dead Sea.
IDE President Yoram Dvash said that IDWI offers international buyers a chance to enjoy a winter break, as well as explore excellent business opportunities. “This year we decided to enhance the “fun” aspects of the event. We’re inviting buyers to bring their spouses and for the first time we’re organizing a special program for spouses during the day. We hope that participants will discover all that Tel Aviv has to offer – restaurants, nightlife, cultural events. IDWI is a great start for a short vacation: three hotel nights are complimentary, and we’ve added a day of free touring”, he said.
IDWI Schedule
This year, in lieu of buyers’ preferences, the schedule of the IDWI will be slightly different. Buyers and visitors will conduct trade at the main Trading Hall at the bourse from Monday to Wednesday, while Thursday will be dedicated to personal meetings at the IDE. Buyers can also spend Thursday in touring Jerusalem or the Dead Sea, free of charge.
The week will officially kick off on Monday, 12 am, with an opening Ceremony at the main Trading Hall. On Tuesday, 4 pm, participants are invited attend a lecture by Jean Marc Lieberherr, CEO of the Diamond Producers Association (DPA) at the Cullinan restaurant. A cocktail party reception will be held for the participants at Leonardo City Tower Hotel.
