The inaugural Middle East-China Diamond & Jewellery Summit opened on 8 November 2008 at the Atlantis Hotel on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, UAE. The summit saw the participation of over 800 traders and jewellery retailers who converged to discuss best practices and the outlook for the global diamond industry. The event is a maiden venture of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) and aims to enhance trade relationships between the Middle East and China.
Industry experts were optimistic about trade prospects with China, despite the current gloomy economic situation. They discussed a broad range of topics including key trends in the evolution of the industry, outlook for diamond polishing, marketing strategies, drivers for future growth and prospects for boosting demand for diamonds.