Sunday, May 06, 2012
(This item was originally published Saturday.)
DUBAI (Zawya Dow Jones)--In a move to protect Dubai's position as a growing hub for the diamond trade, the UAE's Kimberley Process office has held talks with Dubai Police Airport Security and Dubai Customs to secure the emirates against the smuggling of so-called blood diamonds, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority said Saturday.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, or KPCS, is designed to certify the origin of rough diamonds. The certification aims to prevent diamonds originating in conflict areas from entering into the legitimate rough-diamond market.
The United Arab Emirates implemented the KPCS in 2003 to keep conflict diamonds from being smuggled into the country, becoming the first Arab state to do so. It also authorized the DMCCA as the only entry and exit point for rough diamonds in the country.
Dubai's diamond trade has been largely driven by India, Belgium, Hong Kong and Switzerland, with growing trade emerging from new African markets.
In an emailed statement, Maryam Al Hashemi, DMCC's director of the UAE Kimberley Process, said the number of Kimberley Process Certificates issued is expected to increase by 33% in 2012.
The multi-stakeholder discussions centered around "initiatives to boost security by checking and apprehending passengers, prior to boarding, on suspicion of carrying non-KP approved rough diamonds," the DMCCA said.
Dubai International Airport expects to handle 90 million passengers a year by 2018, according to Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths.
Brigadier Pilot Ahmad bin Thani, director Ggneral of the Department of Airport Security in Dubai Police, added that the attempt was to reduce the risk of illegal diamonds entering or exiting, while not inhibiting the legal trade. "We are considering various options and have also put into practice several initiatives to meet attempted smuggling," he said.
-By Brinda Darasha, Dow Jones Newswires; +9714 446-1688; brinda.Darasha@dowjones.com
Copyright (c) 2012 Dow Jones & Co.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
06-05-12 0401GMT
