Shine Pays Tribute to Work of Diamond Empowerment Fund

“We are seeing a new kind of consumer: faced with far greater choice on where to spend their money, these consumers are looking for ethical purposes, looking for additional reassurances about what it is they are buying,” DEF board member Shine said at a DEF event at the JCK Show Las Vegas.

“When they do spend money on diamonds which symbolize love and emotion they want to know that what they are purchasing has added real value somewhere in the world. Put that together with producing country governments wanting to have a bigger, better part of what is happening in the diamond pipeline and that creates great opportunity to do new and different things. DEF gives smaller as well as larger businesses the opportunity to support the development of new leaders in Africa through higher education,” she added.

Other speakers included Uzi Levami, CEO of Sarine Technologies, and Ilan Amit, Chairman of Malca-Amit, who stressed the importance of ensuring consumers are aware that diamonds are, and continue to be, a force for good.

DEF also held a presentation called Doing Good is Good Business led by Dr. Benjamin Chavis, DEF Senior Strategic Advisor.