Martin Rapaport Seminar
Thursday November 5, 2009: 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Location: Sharjah D Room - on top of Hall 5
This presentation is free and open to all members of the trade. RSVP to: dubai@diamonds.net
Martin Rapaport: Chairman of the Rapaport Group of Companies
Topic: New Realities
The diamond and jewelry industry is undergoing unprecedented change as the global economic crisis shifts demand and forces suppliers to reduce production. While severe challenges confront the industry there are also great opportunities. What are these opportunities? How should companies cope with the changing business environment? What is the outlook for diamond prices? The challenge for our industry is to develop strategic thinking that enables firms to adapt to the new realities of the marketplace. Smart people won’t just survive the recession they will reposition themselves as winners.
Martin Rapaport
Chairman of The Rapaport Group
The Rapaport Group is an international network of companies actively involved in key aspects of the diamond and jewelry industry. It was founded by Martin Rapaport who began his career in the diamond industry in 1975 as an apprentice diamond cleaver in Antwerp Belgium. In 1978, he established the Rapaport Diamond Report, the primary source of diamond price and market information. In 1982, he created RapNet - the world’s first and largest electronic diamond trading network with current daily listings of 550,000 diamonds valued at over $4 billion dollars. RapNet has more than 4,000 active members in 80 countries.
Additional Rapaport Group services include the www.diamonds.net portal providing 24/7 news and information services and GIA Lab Direct diamond grading and certification services in India, Israel and Belgium. The Group’s trading division operates rough and polished diamond tenders and provides international clearing house services providing guaranteed cash transactions, consolidated shipping and quality control services. The Group employs 120 employees in ten countries.
The Rapaport Group is a primary advocate of free, fair, efficient and competitive diamond markets. Martin Rapaport played an integral part in the establishment of the Kimberley Process. And is a strong advocate of diamonds for development, an ethical diamond trade, and the establishment of a Fair Trade Jewelry sector that will improve the lives of millions of impoverished artisanal diggers.
Memberships include: World Diamond Council, Jewelers for Children Charity Fund (Director) U.S. Diamond Manufacturers and Importers Association, New York Diamond Dealers Club (Director 1984-1990), Israel Diamond Exchange, Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association. Belgium Diamond Bourse, Dubai Diamond Exchange and the Indian Gem and Jewelry Promotion Council.
