Public Affairs

In the framework of the 36th WFDB Congress, which took place last week, AWDC had the pleasure to welcome a delegation from Gokhran of Russia, the State Precious Metals and Gem Repository.

Last week, AWDC also had the pleasure to welcome a delegation from the South Africa Diamonds & Precious Metals Regulator, who visited Antwerp in the framework of the 36th World Diamond Congress.

Last week, Honourable Isak Katali, Namibian Minister of Mines met with AWDC Management during his visit to Antwerp for the World Diamond Congress.

Mr. Katali and AWDC representatives engaged in discussions concerning beneficiation. AWDC and the Antwerp diamond community always strives to maximize returns to the governments and people of diamond producing countries provide for their raw materials

Following a meeting in Brussels with the Zimbabwean Ambassador to Belgium and in the framework of the World Diamond Congress, organized by the World Federation of Diamond Bourses and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association, Mr. Walter Chidakwa, Zimbabwean Minister of Mines visited the Antwerp diamond sector.

On June 10, the Kimberley Process (KP) Intersessional Meeting kicked off in Shanghai, China, under the auspices of KP Chair Mr. Wei Chuanzhong. As the Intersessional’s main sponsor, AWDC hosted the exclusive Gala Dinner for the Intersessional participants on Monday evening.

Today the AWDC had the honor to welcome the Kimberley Process Chair, His Excellency Wei Chuanzhong, Vice-Chair Bernardo Campos and the Mr. Edward Asscher, President of the World Diamond Council for the purpose of renewing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Kimberley Process Administrative Support Mechanism (ASM).

Today the AWDC had the honor to welcome the Kimberley Process Chair, His Excellency Wei Chuanzhong, Vice-Chair Bernardo Campos and the Mr. Edward Asscher, President of the World Diamond Council for the purpose of renewing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Kimberley Process Administrative Support Mechanism (ASM).

In the run-up to the federal elections, the VBO, UNIZO, UCM, Boerenbond, VOKA, UWE en BECI are working together in the framework of the campaign ‘Samen iets ondernemen’ (Promoting Entrepreneurship). By means of this campaign, these organizations aim to highlight the contribution of companies to the prosperity of our country.

On Wednesday, 21 May, a High-level Seminar on Good Practices in the Diamond Sector took place in Washington, at the Belgian Embassy.  The seminar focused on the lessons learned from the Kimberley Process (KP) and the way forward. AWDC endorsed the Process as the best preventative system for conflict diamonds and advocated for its evolution according to its founding principles. In 2013, 28 000 KP certificates were issued in Antwerp, which constituted half of the world's certificates.

On Wednesday 14 May 2014, H.E. Denis Robert, Canadian Ambassador to Belgium, visited the Antwerp diamond sector. Stéphane Fischler, AWDC President and Ari Epstein, AWDC CEO received the Canadian delegation. The ambassador visited the Diamond Office, HRD Antwerp and the Antwerp Diamond Tender Facility.