Ravi Bhansali
- Name: Ravi Bhansali
- Company Name: Rosy Blue NV
- Years of Involvement in the Trade: 18 years
- Your Age: 39
- Born and raised in Antwerp – 3rd Gen here, Studies in the Lycee Francais and then the Antwerp International School, following which went to London to pursue my Bachelor’s in International Business from Regent’s University London
What are your three priorities within the board, and how would you approach them?
in my opinion, there are many challenges within the Antwerp diamond industry that need to be addressed by the next Board of Directors. For me, there are three themes that, if elected, I will put high on the priority list. The first one is navigating G7 regulations by engaging in positive collaboration with Belgian & EU authorities, as well as with stakeholders across the global diamond trade, from mine to retail – while always respecting and supporting legal sanctions. A second project that needs our full attentions is the development of a sustainable vision for Antwerp’s future, across the diamond and jewelry supply chain. For me this includes addressing issues such as banking and tax stability.
As representatives of a segment of the market, how would you stay in touch with your constituents/voters?
I believe in simple, effective, non-bureacratic solutions. First of all, I would share my contact details, like phone number and e-mail address, with all the category 1 players who I would be representing. In addition, my door is always open, and I want to give people the opportunity to contact me in person as well.
Another way I would stay in contact with the market is by inviting all members of my category onto a simple group chat where views can be shared and freely expressed, or polls can be conducted. I will actively seek out counsel from this group if I’m ever torn by an issue, in order to seek out collective wisdom.
How are you tethered to Antwerp?
My family is one of the earlier Indian families who moved to Antwerp. My paternal grandfather, one of the co-founders of our group, had been travelling to Antwerp since the early 1960’s to trade in diamonds. And my maternal grandfather moved here in the 1950s, which means my mother was born here, and so was I, and so are my children. Our company established permanent presence in Antwerp over 50 years ago.
I love this city, and I love living here. Next to that, I believe it is a strategically important location within the global diamond trade and I will do everything in my power to ensure that our industry continues to thrive here. Besides doing business, I’m raising my little family here in Antwerp, and I have no personal intention nor any desire to move out.
What are Antwerp's assets?
There has been significant negative talk about Antwerp and our diamond industry here in recent years, but I believe Antwerp continues to offer a lot. Firstly, all traders, of all backgrounds and communities happily coexist here. It is beautifully located in the heart of Europe, with trains and planes connecting us easily throughout the continent. And finally, Antwerp has led the way in terms of ethical business practices and can continue to be a setter of the highest standards for our global trade.
What is the best-kept secret of Antwerp?
I’m not sure it’s true secret, but for me personally, this city is steeped in creativity. Whether it be fashion, art & culture or food & restaurants, it’s simply mindboggling how our relatively small city packs a powerful punch, offering the level of culture matching major international cities. I love that, and it’s one of the reasons I love living here.
