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India, Belgium Ministers Meet to Strengthen Ties
Aug 3, 2012 2:47 AM
By Dilipp S Nag
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RAPAPORT... India called for institutional cooperation between the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) and domestic diamond facilities, mainly in the areas of diamond and gemstone grading and sorting, research and development, certification and cutting and polishing.
Anand Sharma, India’s Minister of Commerce, Industry and Textiles, met with Didier Reynders, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and European Affairs, in New Delhi on Thursday for bilateral trade discussions.
During the meeting, Sharma (photo left side) praised the scope of AWDC's organized training programs and courses in gemology, cutting and sorting of rough and polished diamonds. He said the empowerment of the skills would enhance the manufacturing capacity and productivity of the sector.
Both the ministers identified health and life sciences as key areas of cooperation.
Sharma asserted that Belgium is an important trading partner for India and expressed satisfaction over the growing trade and investment between the two countries in the face of the global financial slowdown. However, both the ministers noted that there is scope for improvement.
The bilateral trade between India and Belgium rose to $17.76 billion in 2011, up from $12.30 billion in 2010.
*Photo source: Press Information Bureau, India
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Tags:
Anand Sharma, Antwerp, Antwerp Bourse, Antwerp World Diamond Centre, AWDC, Belgium, certification, diamond, diamonds, Didier Reynders, Dilipp S Nag, gemology, gemstone, grading, India, polished, Rapaport, rough, Sorting
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