US delegation holds meeting in Mumbai to discuss sanctions on Russian diamonds

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
May 26, 2023

A delegation from the US including representatives from the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the US Consulate Mumbai met with the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council and the Bharat Diamond Bourse on May 25 to discuss sanctions on Russian diamonds. 

“The primary agenda of the meeting revolved around the current state of the Indian diamond industry in light of the United States government and G7's efforts to tighten sanctions on diamonds originating from Russia,” the GJEPC announced on its website on May 26. 
 
GJEPC chairman Vipul Shah and Bharat Diamond Bourse president Anoop Mehta among others met with chief counsel of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Matthew Sullivan and Senate Foreign Relations Committee senior counsel Kathryn Chaudoin. “During the discussions, the Indian diamond industry leaders emphasised their willingness to embrace pragmatic and feasible solutions that involve certification and auditable processes, as opposed to solely relying on signed declarations,” reported the GJEPC. 

Representatives at the meeting emphasised that the size and large workforce of the Indian diamond industry means that any changes to operations must be implemented carefully to prevent employment issues. A number of Indian representatives also expressed concern over the G7's intention to segregate diamonds based on their origin. The importance of strengthening technology was also highlighted.