The Israel Diamond Institute (IDI) plans to emphasize diamond branding at BASELWORLD 2004. IDI will host a panel of diamond branders at its annual press breakfast, to be held on April 16 at 8:45a.m. at the Osaka-Samarkand Congress Room at the Basel Convention Center. The press event, which will be hosted by Simcha Lustig, IDI Chairman, is being titled “Marketing and Branding in the Diamond Industry – Israeli Case Studies.”

The panel will feature Ken Gassman of Rapaport Research as moderator, and will include leading industry branders Meir Dalumi of A. Dalumi Diamonds, Jeremy Medding of EMA, Shai Simantov of Lili Diamonds, and Paola Da Luca of Trendz Forecasting.

IDI has also upgraded its presence at the show, with a newly designed industry image booth, to be located in Hall 3.0, Stand P31. The IDI booth will feature the recently launched IDI web portal, diamond-il, as well as a new film about the Israeli industry.

In addition, a strong presence of Israeli diamantaires will be felt, with dozens of Israeli diamantaires exhibiting independently, mainly in Halls 3 and 6. Among the companies exhibiting are: A. Dalumi Diamonds Ltd. (G38), A. Schwartz & Sons (P26), Afic Diamond Ltd. (P32), Dany Avlas Diamonds (B24), EFD Diamonds Ltd. (P78), Fourever Concept (P50), Gemstar-Eshed (K50), Kristal Diamonds Ltd. (N02), Lili Diamonds (P40), M. Schnitzer & Co. (F20), Schachter & Namdar Group (N31), Shlomo Bichachi Diamonds (P79) and Tzoffey’s (J30).

IDI Chairman Simcha Lustig said that this year the Israel diamond industry would be looking towards greater penetration of European markets, in addition to developing new markets, such as China.

JCK