IST, AGENCIES

Clearly the best gift a woman can ever receive and one that elicits the most blushes - a diamond - will be forever, as they say and quite truly so. And if there’s one place in Belgium that knows this fact better than any other, it is Antwerp - The city of diamonds.

The city is known for its diamond industry and is home of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). The AWDC is the coordinating body and official representative of the diamond sector. It’s an official organization, recognized internationally and acts as host, spokesperson and intermediary for the Belgian diamond community.

Antwerp has a prosperous and lively commerce, rich history and deeply rooted traditions. Diamonds form an integral part of the cultural history of Antwerp, from its golden age until the present day. Antwerp and diamonds have been closely linked since the 14th century.

With the current economic slowdown, the indistry would also be affected a bit but not for long feels Mr Freddy Hanard, MD of AWDC. “China, India and the Middle East are the emerging markets on a middle long term (5 to 7 years). But the two coming years will still be impacted by the financial crisis. The growth of the diamond industry follows the global economic growth,” says Hanard.

The Antwerp Diamond Square Mile
An interesting aspect of Antwerp is the Antwerp Diamond Square Mile, an exclusive, unparalleled infrastructure where more than 1500 international diamond companies have their headquarters in a secured area, called the Diamond Square Mile with its four diamond bourses, specialized diamond banks, diamond grading labs,insurance, security and transport companies, brokers, consultants, schools, technology companies and more.

With Indians taking a shine to diamond like never before, the diamond businesses too have taken note and Antwerp will always be in the scheme of things when the gem is mentioned. “Antwerp still remains an important diamond centre, offering the widest variety of goods and companies,” says Hanard confidently summing up the importance of the region for the diamond trade.