The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has become a member of the Natural Diamond Council (NDC), making it the first industry body to progress toward NDC membership under the Luanda Accord framework. The announcement was made by the NDC in Las Vegas on 28 May 2026. The development follows GJEPC’s signing of the Luanda Accord in June 2025 and a Memorandum of Understanding signed during the second Luanda Accord High-Level Meeting held in Cape Town in February 2026.

According to the NDC, the move reflects GJEPC’s commitment to collective industry action in support of the natural diamond sector and strengthens collaboration across the global diamond value chain. India occupies a central position in the natural diamond industry, encompassing diamond processing and a growing domestic consumer market. The country is estimated to cut and polish around 90% of the world’s diamonds by volume, with Surat, Gujarat, serving as the primary processing hub.

As the representative body for India’s gem and jewellery trade, GJEPC has been involved in trade promotion, industry development and international engagement. The council’s membership in the NDC comes at a time when industry stakeholders are focusing on category marketing, consumer education and coordinated messaging to support long-term demand for natural diamonds.

Amber Pepper, CEO of the Natural Diamond Council, said, “We are thrilled to welcome GJEPC as a Member of the NDC, marking an exciting new chapter in our longstanding partnership and a powerful step forward for industry collaboration. India plays a vital role in the global natural diamond value chain, and GJEPC’s membership reflects our shared commitment to driving sustained category marketing, elevating consumer education, and championing the long-term growth and differentiation of natural diamonds.”

Pepper added that the partnership would help strengthen industry engagement with consumers while reinforcing the value proposition of natural diamonds globally.

Commenting on the development, Kirit Bhansali, Chairman of GJEPC, said, “The Natural Diamond Council represents the voice of our industry to consumers globally, and it is important that we collectively support its efforts in the category marketing of natural diamonds, the world’s most coveted gemstone. As a new generation of modern consumers emerges, it is increasingly important that we continue to engage them through meaningful storytelling, inspiration, and education. This shared vision is what led us to become Members of the NDC and to contribute both strategically and financially to its long-term mission and growth.”

The membership marks a further step in the implementation of the Luanda Accord’s objectives, bringing together stakeholders across the natural diamond value chain to support consumer confidence and category growth.