The Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI) launched yesterday a groundbreaking Russian version of the Israeli Diamond Industry Portal, the ultimate B2B website for the Israeli trade market.
"This is an historical moment", said Avraham (Bumi) Traub, Chairman of the IDI Finance Committee and Honorary President of the Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association, who presented the website at a press conference in front of dozens of journalists at the Sheraton City Tower, At Ramat Gan's diamond district.
IDI's Russian website, the only one of its kind operated by a diamond center, is launched two years after IDI had successfully launched its Chinese version, which was also a first for the industry.
Bumi Traub, Chairman of IDI Finance Committee and Honorary President of IsDMA
Traub said during the conference that Israel today is the world's leading diamond center, with major markets in the USA and Hong Kong. "We want Russia as well. If the tax for diamonds in Russia will ease up, it will allow the entry of new products from Israel - and will help buyers and clients", said Traub, who was a pioneer in the Israel-Russia business trading back in the 60's. "For me - Russia is a super-power. After the tax reduction in Russia, I believe we will have plenty of business to conduct there", Traub added.
It seems the Israeli diamond industry portal is the leading online diamond information and trading center. Israel's strong high-tech character reflects on its diamond cutting and polishing technology as well. "Here in Israel we create the majority of the diamond cutting and polishing technology. New generations are advocating new technologies", Traub said.
Russian media representatives at the press conference
Concerning the global crisis, Traub told the press that the financial crisis has hit the industry, just like in the 30's. With an optimist tone, he added that "From the end of January, diamond prices rose about 35%", which definitely gives a boost to the industry.
"The portal is free, accessible and with 5-7 news items on the jewelry and diamond industry posted each and every day", told the press IDI Managing Director Eli Avidar. "We have more than 113,000 users' entries each month, with total of more than 1.2 million viewed pages. The new Russian website has a huge potential to become a central business platform on a B2B basis. I believe that the website will be highly successful.”
Eli Avidar, IDI's Managing Director
"Our vision is to bring the industry news to people from Novosibirsk through Moscow and all the way to Odessa", Avidar summarized.
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