JCK Las Vegas 2019 has announced that Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, the president of the Republic of Botswana, will serve as the keynote speaker on opening day of the show.
On May 31 at 7:30 a.m. in the Palazzo Ballroom of the Venetian resort in Las Vegas, guests of JCK Las Vegas are invited to hear this presentation by President Masisi, which will focus on the connection between Americans and the people of Botswana and how diamonds bring us together. The event is sponsored by De Beers Group, who will host a breakfast along with the keynote presentation.
“We are extremely honored to partner with De Beers Group to host His Excellency, the president of the Republic of Botswana, for this meaningful conversation at the opening of JCK Las Vegas,” said Yancy Weinrich, senior vice president of Reed Exhibitions and Reed Jewelry Group, in a statement. “As JCK is bringing the entire industry together under one roof, we are honored to help connect jewelers with a prominent and influential leader behind the supply system for our precious materials. The inspirational impact of the good the diamond industry does in Botswana is proof of the power of our industry to create a meaningful impact on the world.”
President Masisi, the son of a former cabinet minister and member of Parliament, has served in leadership positions in education and curriculum development for UNICEF and for the Botswana government, as well as on the board of a number of environmental NGOs. A lifelong public servant, he was sworn in as the fifth president of the Republic of Botswana in April 2018.
In 2017, Botswana was the second-largest producer of diamonds—in volume and value—in the world, according to the Diamond Producers Association and, just last month, became the location for the second-largest diamond ever found (at 1,758 carats, the rough diamond is the size of a tennis ball).
“Having pioneered diamond mining operations in Botswana in partnership with the government since the late 1960s, we have seen firsthand the incredibly powerful influence that diamonds have had on this thriving democracy,” said Bruce Cleaver, CEO of De Beers Group, also in a statement. “We are honored to welcome His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, president of the Republic of Botswana, to JCK Las Vegas. His unique perspective on the special connection between America and Botswana is sure to be thought-provoking, powerful, and inspirational. The true story of human advancement in Botswana is uplifting and in large part thanks to the remarkable gift of nature—the diamond.”
The breakfast, hosted by De Beers Group, will begin at 7:30 a.m. along with the keynote, which will conclude at 9:20 a.m., just before the official opening of JCK Las Vegas at 9:30 a.m. Seating is limited, so you must RSVP to reserve your place. Visit debeersevents.com and login with these credentials: Username: debeerspublic; Password: publicEvents!2019. The registry will close once seating capacity has been reached. A JCK, Luxury, or JIS Exchange show badge will be required for entry, and this event will feature enhanced security.
Visit lasvegas.jckonline.com for more on the upcoming show.
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