Key Highlights of Kimberley Process Intersessional Meeting 2026
India's Chairmanship
- Host City: Mumbai
- Theme: 3Cs - Credibility, Compliance, and Consumer Confidence
- Objective: Enhance transparency and sustainability of natural diamond sector
About Kimberley Process (KP)
- Launch: 2000 by Southern African countries
- Mandate: Prevent trade of "conflict diamonds" used by rebel groups to finance armed conflicts
- Legal Framework: UN General Assembly Resolution 55/56 (2000)
- Nature: Not a formal international organization or legally binding treaty
- Implementation: Through national laws of participating countries
Membership & Participation
- 60 participants representing 86 countries
- European Union acts as single bloc
- Industry observers: World Diamond Council, Civil Society Coalition
- Members account for 99.8% of global rough diamond production
India's Diamond Industry
- Processing: Processes nearly 90% of world's diamonds
- Turnover: Accounts for around 75% of global diamond turnover by value
- Import Sources: UAE, Belgium, Russia (rough diamonds)
- Industry Hubs: Surat and Mumbai
- Lab-Grown Diamonds: India contributes over 15% of global output (2023)
- Status: Not a major diamond producer but global leader in cutting and polishing
Significance for India
- India is founding member of KPCS
- Strategic opportunity to modernize KP in changing geopolitical environment
- Positions India as leader in sustainable and responsibly sourced diamonds
- Strengthens India's role in global gem and jewelry trade