Israeli Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI) has launched a well researched programme to support the Israeli diamond manufacturers and exporters to face the global economic crisis and survive it. The IDI is currently implementing the first stage of the programme. IDI Chairman Moti Ganz said that IDI’s role was to lead the industry’s marketing efforts. “We want to push forward aggressively and to introduce the Israeli industry to new and creative marketing tools. We are now launching the first stage and additional elements of the programme will be announced later in the year.” He was optimistic that the programme would effectively promote the Israeli diamond industry in international markets. %% Eli Avidar - IDI Managing Director said that he was certain that this programme would have an important impact on the Israeli Diamond Industry. “It was clear to us that we needed to act swiftly and creatively in order to boost marketing efforts. The full programme is very comprehensive and contains elements never implemented before in our industry. Additional stages of the programme will be launched at Basel and JCK Las Vegas,” he stated. %% Stage one of the multipronged strategic initiative includes: %% Israeli Diamond Industry News Service – IDI will write and distribute press releases about new developments at individual diamond companies as a free service. This service will enable Israeli diamond companies to bring their news to the attention of the diamond and jewellery trade media and will serve the trade media’s ongoing need for information. %% Internet Marketing and E-Commerce – IDI will organise a series of online seminars for Israeli diamantaires to instruct them on the possibilities of Internet marketing and e-commerce. Moreover, IDI will provide free consulting services for diamantaires who wish to create or improve their websites. %% Social Network Marketing – IDI will assist diamantaires in taking advantage of the marketing opportunities of social networks on the Internet. %% Trade Show Support – IDI is expanding its Israeli Diamond Pavilions at major trade shows to include meeting space where non-exhibiting Israeli diamantaires will be able to network and meet clients. %% VIP Service to Buyers – This service enables Israeli diamond companies to offer buyers a great incentive to visit Israel. Foreign buyers will receive a free hotel stay for every day they spend on the Israel Diamond Exchange trading floor, up to a total of four nights. Accommodations are at the Sheraton City Tower Hotel adjacent to the diamond complex.