AlHijjah 9, 1432, Nov 5, 2011, SPA -- India's gem industry is hailing a decision by an international diamond watchdog body to allow exports of rough diamonds from Zimbabwe, according to AP. The head of India's gem and jewelry export council said Saturday that imports of the stones would begin as soon as the Indian government completes formalities to lift an embargo. India is the world's biggest processor of diamonds, mostly for use in jewelry. Experts from the Kimberley Process, which governs global trade in diamonds, agreed Tuesday to allow Zimbabwe to sell $2 billion in diamonds from the Marange fields. The African nation had been under sanctions since 2009 because of allegations of human rights violations in Marange, but Zimbabwe has denied the allegations.
