Singapore, Feb 4 (PTI) A 34-year-old
Indian-origin man based in Singapore was today appointed President of the
newly- formed International Grown Diamond Association (IGDA).
Vishal Mehta, CEO of a Singapore-based
company which makes lab diamond, was named President of the IGDA, a platform of
more than 10 leading grown diamond producers, distributors and retailers.
Founded in the US, IGDA said it would seek
to serve as the central point of communication, education, development and
growth of the industry.
"IGDA was conceptualised because we,
as an emerging industry, felt the need to collectively represent grown diamonds
on a global forum, share technical facts about growing diamonds and the
technology involved, so that theres an informed knowledge about the value,
beauty and eco- advantages of grown diamonds," Mehta said.
Mehta is the Chief Executive Officer of
Singapore-based IIa Technologies which grows diamond from its state-of-the-art
facility in the city state.
The IGDA, the first ever grown diamond
industry association, aims at representing the grown diamond industry,
promoting grown diamonds as a new choice in diamonds and educating about
various unique qualities and applications of grown diamonds.
"With IGDA, the grown diamond industry
can effectively take the collective steps to present itself to consumers who
wish to have a genuine choice in diamonds, commercial sectors who require high
quality but a consistent supply to develop diamond-based applications, and the
larger diamond processing industry, in general," Patron Member and
Secretary General Richard Garard said.
Grown diamonds or lab diamonds are man-made
diamonds that consist of actual carbon atoms arranged in the characteristic
diamond crystal structure. In the 1950s, scientists first created diamonds by
replicating the intense heat and pressure that forms them underground.
Other IGDA Founding Members include
Washington Diamonds, New Diamond Technology, Scio Diamond, Golcondia, Pure
Grown Diamonds, Polished Diamond Company, Diamond Foundry, MiaDonna and Company
and Chatham Created Gems and Diamonds. PTI GS CPS AKJ CPS
Virat Kohli Replaces Aaron Finch as No. 1 Twenty20 Internationals Batsman
Virat Kohli's remarkable performance in the
recently-concluded Twenty20 series against Australia, paid instant dividends as
he replaced Aaron Finch at the top of the ICC Rankings for Batsmen in Twenty20
Internationals. (Rohit, Kohli, Raina Guide India to 3-0 Series Sweep)
According to the latest list released by
the ICC on Monday, Kohli who had scores of 90 not out, 59 not out and 50 in the
three-match series, gained 47 ratings points to move ahead of Finch with 892
ranking points to his credit. (Kohli Should Continue to Bat at No. 3, Yuvraj
Must Wait: Gavaskar)
Finch gained 14 points himself thanks to
scores of 44 and 74 in Adelaide and Melbourne, but his hamstring injury in game
two ruled him out of the final match of the series at the SCG on Sunday.
(Kohli's Pakistani Fan Jailed For 10 Years For Flying Indian Flag)
India's Suresh Raina moved up three places
to 13th after his impressive series, while opener Rohit Sharma also moved up
four places to be placed 16th.
David Warner, who scored 17 in the opening
match before heading to New Zealand for the one-day international series
against New Zealand, dropped six spots to 18th.
West Indies spinner Sunil Narine, who is
currently banned by the ICC due to an illegal bowling action, retained top spot
in the bowling rankings ahead of fellow Windies spinner Samuel Badree.
The latest rankings also confirmed India's
ascension to No.1 in the world, while Australia have plummeted to eighth spot
following the 3-0 series defeat.
