UAE Kimberley Process Chair 2016 publishes mid-term report

DUBAI, 22nd August, 2016 (WAM) -- Ahmed bin Sulayem, UAE Kimberley Process Chair 2016, yesterday published a mid-term report, a first for the Kimberley Process. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, KPCS, is a joint government, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds. It imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as ‘conflict free’ and prevent illegitimate diamonds from entering legitimate trade. UAE Kimberley Process contains 54 members representing 81 countries, with the European Union and its member states counting as an individual participant. The report also offers a preview of activities for the remainder of the year including the KP Plenary meeting that will see representatives from all over the world meet in Dubai to discuss the future of the diamond industry, from 13th-17th November. "This year the Kimberley Process Chair has taken concrete steps to support the efforts of various groups and monitoring teams, to ensure that some of the world’s poorest diamond producing countries are able to join or come back into the KP family and receive a fair share of the revenues created by the mining and export of rough diamonds", said Mr bin Sulayem. Mr bin Sulayem, KP Chair since January 2016, has been pro-active in not only upholding the principles of the Kimberley Process remit, to facilitate the legitimate mining and trading of rough diamonds, but also in working closely with governments and KP working groups to promote and enhance ethical and best practices. "Raising global awareness of the work of the KP is key to not only report achievements, but to demonstrate how we are working to stem the flow of conflict diamonds, protect the rights of miners and improve conditions for their families in countries concerned in diamond mining and production", added bin Sulayem. The Kimberly Process chairmanship 2016 is under the auspices of the UAE Ministry of Economy. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, appointed Ahmed bin Sulayem as KP Chair in January 2016. The KP Chair oversees the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, the operations of the working groups and committees, and general administration and facilitation. The Chair rotates annually. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395298977958.html