On Sunday, April 21st, ten thousands of sports enthusiast will participate in the 28th edition of the 'Antwerp 10 miles', Antwerp's most important sports event of the year. Evidently, the Antwerp diamond community should be part of this event.
So dust off your running shoes, get on track en register for the 'Antwerp Diamond Team'.
AWDC commits to pay your registration fee and will provide you with a unique, special T-shirt.
With a track that runs through the Kennedy and Waaslandtunnel, more than 30.000 participants and more than 10.000 supporting enthusiasts, the Antwerp 10 miles is a truly unique event. If you don't feel up to 10 miles or 16 kilometer, you can choose to run the 5 kilometer track. If running isn't your cup of tea, be sure to come and support the Antwerp Diamond Team.
We are counting on a strong team to defend the Antwerp diamond honor!
Register via Jacintha Dijkstra via e-mail: eliane.clement@awdc.be
AWDC wishes to purchase following stones to support local campaigns.
If you have such stones please contact Barbara Descheemaecker by calling 03 222 05 43 or mailing barbaradescheemaecker@awdc.eu before Thursday February 8th
2 round 0,20 – 0,50 ct, F – H, VVS2
1 round 0,5 – 1 ct, E/F/G, VVS2,
We are looking for the best price-quality.
On Wednesday January 30th, AWDC, in cooperation with the Global Compact Network Belgium and VOKA – Chamber of Commerce and Industry Antwerp-Waasland, organized an Antwerp Diamond Academy dedicated to Sustainability.
During an interesting panel discussion, three local companies - Studio Spark, Bostoen and Bopro – as well as the NGO Bond Beter leefmilieu illustrated how a sustainable business model contributes to society as a whole, but more importantly how it adds value to business. Through specific cases and topics such as innovation, business models and products, the audience learned how corporate social responsibility involves tangible opportunities.
“In the diamond industry, AWDC wants to be a role model by developing various sustainability initiatives”, said Ari Epstein, CEO AWDC. “As member of the UN Global Compact and Kauri, we are working together with associations as WeForest and Camille Paulus Jeugd Sportfonds regarding sustainability topics. Moreover in June of this year, AWDC will present its first sustainability report. These projects are all part of the idea behind the fifth C, the C for Confidence, Compliance and Corporate Social Responsibility.”
Afterwards, the audience was invited to a New Year’s reception to network and share experiences.
“Knowledge is experience, … experience is knowledge; if we want to make it work, it is crucial to share our experiences; not just at seminars and workshops, but at any occasion”, Epstein concluded.
Click here for photo's of this event
AWDC celebrates the success of the Anti-Money Laundering and Compliance Helpdesk, set up to advise and assist all Antwerp diamond dealers with respect to anti-money laundering and other compliance issues. We already assist 1 out of 4 registered diamond dealers in completing their annual Anti-Money Laundering declaration. Other activities of the helpdesk include:
- Answering questions such as: ‘What are the cash restrictions in Hong Kong?’ And ‘How do I protect my intellectual property?’
- Maintaining and completing the ‘doing business in Antwerp’ chapter on the AWDC website, which will be available in hardcopy soon.
- Organizing specific seminars specifically aimed at resolving questions regarding Anti-Money Laundering, as from the 2nd half of 2013.
- And much more….
Last week, you most likely received a letter from the Federal Public Service (FPS) Economy, requesting to complete your annual anti-money laundering declaration (AML-declaration). If you haven't received the declaration, you can download the form here.
Please check our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) online.
You can contact the AML and Compliance Helpdesk to make an appointment via:
Marijke Achten - legal & compliance officer AWDC
tel: 03 222 05 06, email: marijke.achten@awdc.be
Trissia Stavropoulos - Senior manager HR, Legal & Compliance
tel: 03 222 05 03, email: trst@awdc.be
Today’s world is a visual one. ‘Seeing is believing’, they say, something our industry knows better than any other.
That is why AWDC made a brand-new captivating film that truly depicts what we all can experience every single day; Antwerp is the beating heart of the global diamond industry, something to be proud of!
You can download the movie here, free to use. So put it on your website, show it to your clients …
Antwerp & Diamonds, a brilliant story!
The fourth edition of the Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair concluded on Tuesday, January 29. More than 500 visitorsfrom Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and the Russian Federation visited the exhibition booths of the 83 exhibitors in the trading halls of the Antwerp Diamond Bourse and the Diamond Club of Antwerp. Most exhibitors were most of all pleased because the majority of buyers were first time visitors to Antwerp. We already look forward to next year!
After 13 consecutive years at the head of the diamond and jewelry organization, Eli Izhakoff has announced that he will conclude his term as President of the World Diamond Council on June 30, 2013.
Mr. Izhakoff’s decision was not sudden and was entirely personal. He had informed the WDC Board of Directors about his intention at the WDC Annual Meeting in Vicenza, Italy, already in May of last year, and had said then that he would allow ample time for a successor to be elected and a smooth transition to take place.
“It has been an often challenging, but always inspiring period of my career,” said Mr. Izhakoff, “and one of which I am immensely proud. The World Diamond Council, which was created in response to one of the gravest crises to face our industry, not only was instrumental in creating the system that blocked the flow of conflict diamonds into the legitimate trade, but it also changed the way in which we see our role as a business community in a greater society.”
Mr. Izhakoff said that he plans to remain involved in the life of the diamond and jewelry industries, and will continue to support the mission and principles of the World Diamond Council.
Ari Epstein: “I want to explicitly thank Eli Izhakoff for many years of deep commitment, and especially for the wise decisions and effort he invested over the past few years. The WDC wouldn’t be the institute it is today without his skillful leadership. I dare say it will be a tough job for his successor to fill his shoes.”