Delhi, Dec 25 (PTI) For the third time, India will chair the Kimberley Process (KP), a global initiative to remove conflict diamonds from the global supply chain, from January 1 next year, the commerce ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
KP is a joint initiative of various countries, industry and civil society to control the flow of conflict diamonds that are used by rebel movements to fund wars against legitimate governments around the world.
India is a global player in diamond cutting and polishing.
As defined in UN Security Council resolutions, conflict diamonds are rough diamonds used by rebel groups or their allies to finance conflicts that undermine legitimate governments around the world.
“India will take over as the Vice-Chairman of the KP from December 25, 2025, before assuming the Chairmanship in the new year. This will be the third time that India has been appointed to chair the Kimberley Process,” the ministry said.
During his tenure, India will focus on strengthening governance and compliance, advancing digital certification and traceability, increasing transparency through data-driven monitoring and building consumer confidence in conflict-free diamonds.
“India’s leadership as the world’s leading center for diamond production and trade comes at a time of changing geopolitics and growing emphasis on sustainable and responsible sourcing,” the company said.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), established by a UN resolution, entered into force on 1 January 2003 and has since developed into an effective mechanism to curb the trade in conflict diamonds.
It currently has 60 participants, with the European Union and its member states counted as the only participant. Together, the participants represent more than 99 percent of the global trade in rough diamonds, making it the most comprehensive international mechanism governing the sector.
