A diamond is appropriate for every important event in life

Sergey Ivanov, CEO of the Russian State-owned company Alrosa, is one of the most important people in the world of diamonds. On a visit to the diamond capital of Antwerp, he gave his first interview to the foreign press.

That Ivanov is giving his first international interview to the Belgian press is not a coincidence. Antwerp is and remains crucial in the international diamond trade. But isn’t its position under pressure, with the emergence of new diamond centers such as India and Dubai? “India's gaining importance is undeniable,” says Ivanov. “About 90 percent of the global diamond production is polished there. But those diamonds do pass through Antwerp first. And before they are shipped to the US - still the largest market for diamonds - they often pass here again as well. Antwerp is and remains the most important diamond trading centre in the world. We do business for $2 billion a year here. 22 of our 56 sightholders (diamond jargon for long-term customers, ed.) are located in Antwerp.”

Stability

The key to success in Antwerp is something that seems to be lacking in other sectors: stability. “Because of its long and rich diamond history, you can find infrastructure, logistics and safety in the Antwerp diamond industry. You can sell diamonds correctly and safely in a comfortable environment. Belgium ticks like a Swiss watch. "

The Belgian government is also doing everything to safeguard this status, emphasizes Ivanov. “I feel that the Belgian government is working to keep the Antwerp diamond industry progressive and competitive. A few weeks ago, we had a meeting in Davos with Flemish Minister of Economy and Employment Kris Peeters. Shortly thereafter, your Prime Minister Charles Michel was in Moscow for a discussion with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and President Putin. And this week your Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders was in Moscow for a meeting with our foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. They discussed the need for stability in the sector, and in which both parties said that they were satisfied with the course of events. The Belgian government has also made the right decision with the introduction of the carat tax. This provides a basis for fiscal stability, something that is often lacking in Dubai and India.”

Source: De Tijd – 17 Feb. 2018