HRD Antwerp, a subsidiary of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, is keen to increase participation in India by actively promoting its grading services, educational programmes and sale of its branded tools.
With an estimated 80 per cent of all rough diamonds in the world handled in Antwerp, Hoge Raad voor Diamant (HRD) Antwerp is keen to ensure that the international mark of approval for polished diamonds, which is the ‘cut in Antwerp’ label is easily recognisable by Indian diamantaires.
Belgium’s Princess Astrid formally inaugurated HRD Antwerp’s new jewellery lab in Mumbai on Thursday . The new premises are to host networking sessions with local businesses and Antwerp diamond traders. The official delegation then visited the Antwerp Diamond Bank. Belgium is keen to strengthen its trade relations with India as the two countries account for a large volume of the world’s diamond trade.
Fundamental ties
Underscoring the fundamental ties between the diamond trading centre in Antwerp and the Indian production hubs of Mumbai and Surat, Serge Couvreur, CEO of HRD Antwerp, said diamonds have a special place in Belgium’s extensive commercial and cultural exchanges. Polished diamonds account for the majority of the nation’s €13 billion bilateral trade.
On the occasion, Couvreur said he was keen to expand HRD Antwerp’s presence in India with several new ventures. “We will open a second office, with a showroom and a diamond equipment shop in Surat, which will essentially focus on hi-tech instruments and diamond equipment. In New Delhi, we are in the midst of launching a pilot project for an in-house diamond jewellery grading services,”' he said.
HRD Antwerp had earlier signed an agreement with the Jasani Department of Jewellery Design and Manufacture at Mumbai’s SNDT Women's University, a renowned jewellery design institute in Asia.
The agreement envisaged a diamond grading course and a basic gemology course for the students, who would then receive a joint diploma. HRD Antwerp has offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Istanbul, besides Mumbai.
amritanair.ghaswalla@thehindu.co.in