Diamonds Update

Russia's ALROSA diamond producer will present a unique collection of diamonds and jewelry "Made in Russia" at an annual exhibition which opened in Tokyo on Wednesday, the company said in a press release.

ALROSA which launched its own diamond-cutting and jewelry-making facilities, is taking part in this world jewelry show for the first time. The Russian delegation is led by vice-presidents Sergei Ulin and Yuri Dudenkov.

They are expected to meet with representatives of Japanese diamond-cutting and jewelry firms, government officials and lawmakers.

"Visitors will see jewelry pieces from "the Diamond in the Russian Vanguard" collection, which is displayed in the Asian region for the first time," Ulin told Itar-Tass. The basis of the collection is made up of more than 2,000 diamonds, cut at the Smolensk-based Kristall -- the flagship of Russia's diamond-cutting industry whose products are known the world over.

According to published reports, the Moscow diamond-cutting company ALROSA Diamonds will boost production to 141.2 million dollars this year, up 10.8 million dollars from 2004.

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