Press Release: The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), the world leader in diamond trade, participates in the Mine Entra exhibition in Zimbabwe for the first time.
"Now that the European sanctions are lifted, the way is open for intensive collaboration between Zimbabwe and the main commercial center for diamonds," said Ari Epstein, the CEO of the AWDC.
Almost 84 percent of all rough diamonds and 50 percent of all polished diamonds pass through Antwerp today. That makes Antwerp the world's most important trade center. Now that the European sanctions have been lifted, partly under pressure from Antwerp, the AWDC was able to descend to Zimbabwe to take part in the Mine Entra Fair.
Antwerp is important for Zimbabwe. Epstein said, "In recent months we have organized a number of tenders, auctions through which Zimbabwe has been able to sell rough diamonds at a very good price."
Antwerp can generate an optimal market for Zimbabwean rough diamonds because of the large number of potential buyers that are located in Antwerp. In total, about 1700 diamond companies operate in Antwerp.
"The good sales prices have a positive impact on the market, the mining revenues and the increasing demand for transparency in the market," said Epstein. "These higher revenues are a crucial element of the sustainable social and economic development of Zimbabwe."
About AWDC
AWDC, short for Antwerp World Diamond Centre, is an industry-established foundation, whose mission is to serve and support the diamond business in Antwerp, the world's most important diamond trade hub. AWDC is the coordinating body and the official representative of the Antwerp diamond sector, and as such are recognized internationally as the host, spokesperson and intermediary for the Belgian diamond community. In this capacity, AWDC liaises on behalf of the Belgian diamond sector with governments and actively promotes support for the diamond sector at home and abroad.
Eighty-four percent of all rough diamonds and 50 percent of all polished diamonds pass through Antwerp. Diamonds represent 5 percent of the total Belgian exports and 15 percent of all Belgian exports outside the EU, making diamonds the most important export product outside the EU.
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