Kimberley Process Chair, Mr. Suchindra Misra
President of the World Diamond Council, Mr. Ronnie VanderLinden
Vice Coordinator of the Civil Society Coalition, Mr. Farai Maguwu
Participants and Observers of the Kimberley Process
The African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA) appreciates the opportunity to address the Kimberley Process (KP) family here in Mumbai at the 2026 KP Intersessional meeting. We thank the Government of India for its exceptional hospitality. ADPA congratulates India on being the KP Chair for 2026 and thanks the United Arab Emirates for serving as the KP custodian chair in 2025.
Africa remains central to the global diamond landscape, and ADPA was established to promote the collective interests of African diamond-producing countries and ensure that our resources translate into sustainable development for our member states and their communities.
As we gather today, we commend India’s Chairmanship and fully support the theme of the 3Cs – Confidence, Credibility and Compliance. These principles resonate strongly with ADPA’s priorities, translating to a stable and sustainable diamond industry.
In the same vein, I want to highlight the importance of Category marketing for natural diamonds in today´s challenging times, amid intense competition from synthetics (lab-grown). I urge all players to work together on Category Marketing for natural diamonds, because it rebuilds desire for natural diamonds and reinforces their rarity, enduring value, and real–world provenance.
I also want to appeal to the KP family to find an effective approach as to how we should be telling our stories on the good that natural diamonds have contributed to our national economies.
ADPA continues to engage its members and strategic partners to ensure responsible practices governed by the KP.
The KP has always been unique and strengthened through cooperation and collaboration of respective governments, industry and civil society and we look forward to even greater collaboration in 2026 and beyond. I want to remind everyone that all participants and observers have a collective responsibility to support and find sustainable funding mechanisms for the KP secretariat, for the continuity of this key institution.
Mr Chairman, ADPA remains committed to the KP as the only legitimate mechanism mandated by the United Nations to regulate the global diamond trade. ADPA has consistently participated in discourse within the Working Groups and Committees of the KP, including during the last review cycle, and has represented the common positions of African diamond producers.
In closing, allow me to inform you that ADPA will commemorate its 20th anniversary in November 2026, and we look forward to celebrating this significant milestone with the entire KP family.
In the face of the depressed diamond markets, let us all embrace the 3Cs as we reaffirm our shared responsibility to ensure that diamonds continue to bring prosperity and sustainable development in Africa and beyond.
I thank you.
