India has sent an eight member delegation lead by Mr. P.K. Mahapatra, director of the Ministry of Commerce in India, to Ghana to initiate a direct supply of rough diamonds from Ghana to India.

The Indian delegation will present its current position in the world diamond market, currently at 60 percent in value and 90 percent in volume. Efforts will be made to create bilateral trade and joint ventures including cooperation in jewelry manufacturing, training of personnel in cutting and polishing diamonds and recycling gold, commented Mr. V. Shreedhar, Deputy Director of Trade and Commerce in India.

Mr. Shreedhar stated, "We will have more information tomorrow once the delegation has returned, but I can say with 90 percent certainty, the mission in Ghana was a success."

India's diamond industry has substantially increased its share in the global market in 2002, with a growth of 22.15 percent in gem and jewelry exports, worth $8.7 billion. The mission to Ghana is aimed at making "India the ultimate destination for processing diamonds in the world," commented Sanjay Kothari, Gem and Jewelry Export Promotion Council chairman.