The Diamond Council Joins Friends of DDI Campaign

140 95 Rapaport News

RAPAPORT…
The Diamond Council of America (DCA) provided support to the Diamond Development Initiative’s (DDI) Friends of DDI campaign. The DCA’s financial contribution will be used to fund DDI’s critical projects on the ground in Africa.

”The diamond pipeline will undergo many changes in the coming years,” said Terry Chandler, the president of DCA. ”Understanding the artisanal diamond mining sector and the challenges inherent to this kind of small-scale activity is of utmost importance to our members and constituents. As pro-active members of the jewelry industry who care about our businesses, it’s in our own best interest to support the work of DDI.”

Dorothee Gizenga, the executive director of DDI, added, ”As artisanally mined diamonds continue to grow as a percentage of the global diamond pipeline, DDI’s work to legitimize this sector also grows in importance. We are encouraged by the DCA’s support and hopeful that others in the industry will follow its example in supporting our efforts.”

DDI  aims to ensure that diamonds are an engine for positive economic and social development in communities in Africa and South America where they are sourced.

The DCA was founded in 1944 and now represents more than 5,200 jewelry stores and leading suppliers of diamonds and gems across the U.S.