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HRD Antwerp today opened its first Centre of Excellence branch in Shanghai, China. The opening took place in the framework of the City of Antwerp’s mission to Seoul and Shanghai, and was held in the presence of the Mayor of Antwerp Bart De Wever and Antwerp’s Alderman for Diamonds Ludo van Campenhout. China is the second most important and fastest growing market in the world for polished diamonds, making it a priority for HRD Antwerp. The opening of the Centre of Excellence is an important step in the right direction to expanding their presence in China.
From 11 through 14 December, the City of Antwerp, in the presence of Mayor Bart De Wever, is organizing a mission to Seoul. One of the most important objectives of this mission is to promote the Antwerp diamond industry, which is why the Antwerp World Diamond Centre is a partner to this mission. South Korea is a growing market for polished diamonds, yet Antwerp’s market share in the country is currently rather limited. It is therefore high time to strengthen our commercial ties.
According to Bain & Company’s sixth annual report on the global diamond jewelry market, Millennials could give a further boost to industry sales, if the industry finds a way to reach them effectively.
The global diamond industry performed moderately well in 2015, led by diamond jewelry retail sales, which grew 3 percent at constant exchange rates. However, currency depreciation last year, as well as slower demand in China, contributed to a decline in global revenue of about 2 percent in U.S. dollar terms. Similarly, in the midstream, U.S. dollar revenues dipped by 2 percent and rough diamond sales fell nearly a quarter (24 percent). That decline was the result of reduced purchasing volumes in the cutting and polishing sector and the release of about $5 billion of their inventories into the downstream markets. These are the findings in the sixth annual report on the global diamond jewelry market, prepared by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) and Bain & Company.
A recent Royal Decree added 15 people and entities to the national terrorist list. It is prohibited to make funds or economic resources available to such persons or entities. AWDC has added the people in question to the Bureau Van Dijk Database (KYC Database) for your convenience.
September 26, 2016, around 11:00 AM, a fire ignited inside a diamantaire's vehicle located on floor -3 inside a large S-ADA building. At the time there were approximately 1,000 people inside the building. The fire alarm was activated, triggering the evacuation alarm. Approximately 200 people followed the correct evacuation procedures; the rest were unaware or deliberately stayed in their offices assuming it was a test or an exercise. Luckily the building management, security guards and fire department responded quickly and correctly and prevented the fire from spreading, which, if it did, would have been a catastrophe.
This was not the first ‘real’ incident within the S-ADA. Over the past years we have had real fires inside vehicles parked in underground parking garages, electric transformers that exploded, fires in trash bins inside of offices caused by cigarettes or cigars, malfunctions of electrical appliances, overheated deep fryers, etc.
As of Wednesday 19th October 2016 the Schupstraat will be accessible again and serve as MAIN entrance and exit to and from the S-ADA.
ONLY HIGH VALUE TRANSPORT, POLICE and EMERGENCY vehicles will be allowed to use the Rijfstraat ENTRANCE as such.
Exiting the area will be allowed through the Rijfstraat, keeping in mind that the exiting vehicle takes priority to incoming traffic.
As of Wednesday the LPA DIA checkpoint will be stationed at the Schupstraat once again.
Please find below a reminder of our rules of conduct, concerning the use of the barriers in both Rijf- and Schupstraat.
On 29 September, during a well-attended, two-hour information session organized by the Federation of Belgian Diamond Bourses in collaboration with the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, the Federation informed the Bourses’ members that starting January 1, 2017, the four Antwerp Diamond Bourses will be among the first to actively enforce the guidelines defined by the World Federation of Diamond Bourses for combatting undisclosed synthetics.
A recent royal Decree added 10 people and entities to the national terrorist list. It is prohibited to make funds or economic resources available to such persons or entities. AWDC has added the people in question to the Bureau Van Dijk Database (KYC Database) for your convenience.
