Minister-President of Flanders Geert Bourgeois visits Antwerp diamond sector

On Tuesday, October 7, 2014 Prime Minister Geert Bourgeois visited the Antwerp diamond sector. The visit was part of a series of visits that the Prime Minister will pay to the most important economic sectors in Flanders in the coming months.

Minister-President Bourgeois visited the Diamond Office, HRD Antwerp (the diamond laboratory responsible for certification) and a polishing facility. At the end of his visit, Bourgeois underlined the importance of the diamond industry for the Flemish economy. He also expressed his support concerning the ADB case and suggested that the Flemish government is willing to share its expertise in the search for a solution.

"The total turnover of the companies active in the diamond sector is around 32 billion euros, which is about 16.5% of Flanders’ gross value added," says Ari Epstein. "In addition, the diamond sector accounts for about 6600 direct and 26 000 indirect jobs. Needless to say, we are very pleased that Minister-President Bourgeois recognizes the importance of our sector."