‘Rising tension in the region’ was blamed.
ANTWERP, BELGIUM – The World Federation of Diamond Bourses and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association announced that they are postponing the 2018 World Diamond Congress, which had been scheduled for June 19-21 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
The organizations blamed a “weak response to registration” that they said was “no doubt also influenced by the rising tension in the region.”
In a joint statement, WFDB President Ernie Blom and IDMA President Ronnie VanderLinden said: “It is obviously with very great regret that we have reached the decision to cancel the Congress. We had a full agenda of issues regarding the state of the global diamond industry and preparations were in full swing.”
“However, we have to take all factors into account, and felt it was the correct decision to make which is in the best interests of all concerned. The Congress will be held at a later date which will be determined in the near future.”
The event was being organized by the Israel Diamond Exchange and was due to feature a section on how technology can aid the diamond industry, among other matters.