India assumes the chair of Kimberley Process Certificate Scheme (KPCS)

India has assumed the chair of Kimberley Process Certificate Scheme (KPCS) for the period 1.1.2008 to 31.12.2008. India is one of the founding members of KPCS. In November 2006, India was unanimously selected to hold the Vice Chair if the Scheme for 2007 and therefore, Chair of the Scheme for 2008. Namibia has been selected as the Vice Chair for 2008.

India will be sixth in succession to hold the Chair after South Africa, Canada, Russian Federation, Botswana and European Commission. India as KP chair will continue to build on the traditions and conventions of the previous KP chairs and ensure effective implementation of the KPCS scheme, thereby ensuring growth of legitimate diamond trade and protection of livelihoods of millions of people across the globe.

India will extend all possible assistance to participants to build effective internal controls and work in close cooperation with UN, KP participants, industry and civil society in order to continue the remarkable progress achieved by the Scheme in the past few years.

The Kimberley Process (KP) is a joint governments, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds – rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. The trade in these illicit stones has fuelled decades of devastating conflicts in countries such as Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free’. As of September 2007, the KP has 48 members, representing 74 countries, with the European Community and its Member States counting as an individual participant

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