This appointment marks the third time India has led the initiative that oversees international trade in rough diamonds. According to the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), the Kimberley Process selected India, one of its founding members, by consensus in December.
Ghana was previously appointed as the 2026 vice chair and is expected to assume the chair role in 2027. GJEPC chairman Kirit Bhansali highlighted India's significance in the global diamond trade.
“India’s selection reflects the international community’s trust in its principled, inclusive approach to strengthening the global diamond trade,” he said.
“GJEPC will work with the Indian government and stakeholders to support the chairmanship, advance best practices, strengthen compliance, and reinforce confidence in conflict-free diamonds worldwide.”
The Kimberley Process faced challenges in finding a successor to the United Arab Emirates, which chaired in 2024 and continued as custodian chair in 2025. Thailand was initially designated as the vice chair for 2025, but subsequently withdrew, leaving a vacancy.
Disagreement over the organisation's leadership was underscored by ongoing tension over the Kimberley Process’s inability to agree on a new definition of ‘conflict diamonds’.
Although Belarus volunteered, Western countries rejected its candidacy due to its association with Russia, and Israel opposed Qatar’s nomination. The Kimberley Process operates on the basis of unanimous consent for policy decisions.
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