JNA Mar 2020

精闢視野 JNA Mar/Apr 2020 | 37 Eran Zini, managing director of the Israel Diamond Exchange 以色列鑽石交易所常務董事 Eran Zini 自去年年底開始，全球鑽石業表現回勇，多項指標紛紛造 好，以色列鑽石交易所 (Israel Diamond Exchange ，簡稱 IDE) 常務董事 Eran Zini 指，這顯示行業正在復甦。 去年年終購物旺季期間，鑽坯和成品鑽需求上升，在主 要市場如美國的走勢尤為突出；美國零售市道亦表現堅穩， 萬事達卡 SpendingPulse 報告指，美國聖誕銷售總額按年增 長 3.4% 、網上銷售額增長 18.8% ，當中珠寶銷售增長 1.8% 、網上銷售漲 8.8% 。 Eran Zini 表示，各項數據反映美國消費情緒樂觀、經濟 狀況向好，其作為鑽石業的主要市場，全球鑽石商亦會受 惠。他續指連月示威衝突過後，香港市場亦在逐漸恢復，將 進一步推動行業增長。 他補充說：“我們預期本年鑽石業將持續恢復，從年初 開始轉好，第二季實現真正增長。美國將持續支持鑽石需 求，亦是以色列最大的出口市場。” 創新科技 創新科技繼續推動各行各業發展，鑽石業也不例外。以 色列向以 “Start-Up Nation” （新創企業之國）聞名，一直積 極驅動科技前沿發展，往績包括開發用於切割鑽石的鐳射科 技和自動化鑽坯剖析系統。 Eran Zini 表示，以色列鑽石交易所成立了一家面向以色 列及全球鑽石相關初創企業的鑽石科技創新中心 “Diamond Tech Innovation Center” ，亦與各大網絡貿易平台，如亞 馬遜、 eBay 、阿里巴巴和 James Allen 保持合作，於網上銷 售鑽石。 他說：“我們鼓勵業界投資科技及與電商平台合作。我 們更為此特設課程講授如何利用網上平台拓展商機。” 以色列多年來作為全球鑽石貿易中心， Eran Zini 表示 業界經歷過大小風浪仍堅穩向前，他對前景充滿信心。他 說：“鑽石業經歷過許多低迷時期，每次總能化險為夷，再 創高峰。業界靈活適應市場的瞬息萬變，這種特徵與以色列 的民族文化一脈相承，亦是在鑽石業屹立的關鍵。” Jewellery sales were up 1.8 per cent, with online sales rising 8.8 percent, the data further showed. Diamond companies stand to benefit from improving economic conditions and consumer sentiment in the US, which are instrumental in sustaining global growth. Reinstating political stability in Hong Kong after months of disruptive anti-China protests could likewise further strengthen the market, noted Zini. “Our forecast for the diamond business in 2020 is a continuing trend toward recovery,” he stated. “We expect to see an improvement from the beginning of the year and actual growth in the second quarter of 2020.” The US, as Israel’s largest export market, will continue to fuel demand in the diamond sector, he added. Technology Technological advancements continue to play a crucial role in the development of any business, the diamond sector included. Israel, for instance, is known as the “start-up nation,” because of the many technological innovations it earlier introduced, which include among others the use of lasers in cutting diamonds and computerised rough planning systems. According to Zini, the IDE established the Diamond Tech Innovation Center where it hosts start-ups from various fields related to the diamond industry. IDE has also partnered with global ecommerce leaders such as Amazon, eBay, Alibaba and James Allen to sell diamonds through their online platforms. “We encourage our members to invest in technology in their businesses and to engage with ecommerce players. We also offer courses on how to best take advantage of these new platforms,” he added. Amid challenges, the Israel diamond industry remains resilient owing to its long history as a global diamond hub, noted Zini. “Our industry has seen many downturns, but we have always been able to recover and reach new heights. Our members are flexible and can adapt quickly to new conditions. This trait, characteristic to the Israeli culture, is critical to success in the diamond business,” he continued.