New Delhi: India has been selected to assume the chairpersonship of the Kimberley Process (KP) from January 1, 2026, underscoring its growing influence in global trade governance and the diamond industry. The country will take over as vice-chair on December 25, 2025, ahead of formally assuming the chair in the new year.
The Kimberley Process is a tripartite international initiative involving governments, the global diamond industry and civil society, aimed at preventing the trade in conflict diamonds—rough diamonds used to finance armed conflicts against legitimate governments, as defined by UN Security Council resolutions.
Welcoming the decision, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said India’s selection reflects global confidence in New Delhi’s commitment to transparency and integrity in international trade. This will be the third time India has been entrusted with leading the KP, highlighting its sustained engagement with the framework.
Launched in 2003 through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), the initiative today has 60 participants, including the European Union as a single member. Collectively, these participants account for over 99% of global rough diamond trade, making the KP the most comprehensive multilateral mechanism governing the sector.
India’s leadership comes at a time when the global diamond industry is facing heightened scrutiny over responsible sourcing and supply-chain transparency. As chair, India plans to focus on strengthening governance and compliance, advancing digital certification and traceability systems, improving data-driven monitoring, and building consumer trust in conflict-free diamonds.
As vice-chair in 2025 and chair in 2026, India will work closely with KP participants and observers to reinforce rule-based compliance and enhance the credibility and inclusiveness of the framework, in line with evolving global expectations for ethical trade practices.