Try GOLD - Free
'Strongest natural diamond growth coming from India'
Financial Express Hyderabad
|January 08, 2026
AL COOK, CEO, DE BEERS GROUP
-
Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, sees India as a bright spot for natural diamonds as rising demand, growing aspirations and higher disposable incomes pull consumers towards the category.
Despite the inroads made by lab-grown diamonds as a cheaper alternative, Cook-who visited India for the second time in eight months this week-says domestic consumers remain discerning in their choices. In an interview with Viveat Susan Pinto, he outlines De Beers' priorities for India and its retail strategy. Excerpts:
What brings you to India for the second time in months?
It underlines just how critical India is for us. Despite global turbulence, India continues to grow strongly. We expect GDP growth of around 7% through 2025. At a time of instability, India is increasingly viewed as a source of global stability. Diamonds were first discovered in India over 2,500 years ago, and that heritage continues today-
This story is from the January 08, 2026 edition of Financial Express Hyderabad.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Financial Express Hyderabad
Financial Express Hyderabad
Indices log worst weekly fall in 3 months
GLOBAL CUES DAMPEN MOOD
2 mins
January 10, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
Trade deal stalled as Modi didn't call Trump: US Commerce Secy
A TRADE PACT between India and the United States stalled last year because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not make a telephone call to President Donald Trump ahead of a deal, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Friday.
1 min
January 10, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
SP Group unit may face higher costs in fresh fundraising
SHAPOORJI PALLONJI GROUP (SP Group) could likely be saddled with higher interest rates when its unit Goswami Infratech raises fresh funds, after another unit was forced to raise interest rates, two sources familiar with the plans said.
1 min
January 10, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
Record ₹8L-cr m-cap loss in 9 days
BENCHMARK EQUITY INDICES extended losses for a fifth consecutive session on Friday, as investors remained in a risk-off mode amid US-India trade concerns and escalating geopolitical tensions.
1 min
January 10, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
Re falls 27 paise to close at 90.17 against dollar
THE RUPEE DECLINED 27 paise to settle at 90.17 against the US dollar on Friday, weighed down by elevated global crude oil prices and persistent foreign fund outflows amid rising geopolitical tensions.
1 min
January 10, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
The D2C wave
SCALE, TRUST, DISTRIBUTION PAIRED WITH DIGITALAGILITY UNLOCK A MORE COMPETITIVE AND CREATIVE INDUSTRY
4 mins
January 10, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
Rio Tinto, Glencore in talks to form world's biggest miner
RIO TINTO IS in early talks to buy Glencore, the companies said, in what could create the world's largest mining company with a combined market value of nearly $207 billion.
1 min
January 10, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
Fx reserves drop $9.8 bn, biggest dip in 14 months
FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES recorded their biggest weekly drop in 14 months as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) sold dollars to support a weakening rupee, analysts said.
1 min
January 10, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
BCCL IPO subscribed eight times on first day
THE INITIAL PUBLIC offering (IPO) of Bharat Coking Coal, an arm of Coal India, got fully subscribed within minutes of opening for bidding on Friday and later ended the day with eight times subscription.
1 min
January 10, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
Gifting of MF units to minors will not lower tax liability
YOUR QUERIES: INCOME TAX
2 mins
January 10, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size