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AWDC offers a free database to all Belgian diamond traders for a one-year trial period. The database comprises identification details of 250 million companies worldwide.
In just a couple of clicks you can gather information about your customers, such as the names of directors, ultimate beneficiaries and shareholders and these names are matched with sanction lists, PEP lists, FATF lists with high risk countries, media and lists with Kimberley Participants.
Issued by the Federal Public Service Economy, EU KP Authority, Belgium
Dear diamantair
We hereby inform you with regards to the remodelling of the security entrance in the diamond district:
- Monday 6th of June the barrier zone in the Rijfstraat will definitively be taken into service and the road works will start at the entrance of the Schupstraat.
- As of that moment until mid-September (estimate) all traffic from the diamond district will access the diamond district in and out through the Rijfstraat
- Access to the Schupstraat will remain available for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Access to the area for motor vehicles during the road works will have to occur through the Korte Herentalsestraat – Lange Herentalsestraat- Vestingstraat- Rijfstraat. (see map below)
- The local Antwerp police department at the entrance of the Rijfstraat will have a temporary office to be able to conduct the necessary controls and provide the needed services.
- Do not forget to inform your suppliers about this temporary situation.
- Please note: preparatory and structural works will commence at the Vestingstraat in the near future. We are currently in discussion with the City of Antwerp and LPA on this matter, more information will follow.
The Antwerp rough diamond trade is gradually recovering after a downturn in 2015. According to the April trade figures published by Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), the rough trade surged 32% in value and 39% in volume compared to April 2015. The polished diamond trade faced more headwinds, declining slightly as compared to April last year. Additionally, we note that the United States imported and exported fewer yet more valuable diamonds, while the United Arab Emirates displayed the opposite trend.
The City of Antwerp and the diamond industry have been inextricably linked for more than 550 years. To celebrate this unique connection, from late 2017 to early 2018 the City will be organizing a diamond year – “Antwerp, shaping the Diamond Story” – that will highlight all aspects of the industry with numerous events. During this time, the new experience museum, DiVA Antwerp Home of Diamonds, will open its doors on the Suikerrui.
Fourteen officials from the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy are following a rough diamond training course provided by the Antwerp diamond industry over a period of two weeks. The objective of the course is to ensure that Brazil is able to apply the strict requirements of the Kimberley Process properly. Brazil has a great many potential diamond mines. Through initiatives such as providing this training course, the Antwerp diamond industry hopes in the long term to bring the diamond production from these mines to Antwerp.
As previously announced, AWDC is offering a Know Your Customer (KYC) database to all registered diamond traders for a free one-year trial period. The database, delivered through an external provider (Bureau Van Dijk), comprises identification details for 250 million companies worldwide, as well as various sanctions lists, Politically Exposed Persons lists and FATF high risk countries. The database also screens according to specific risks pertaining to the diamond industry.
Het Diamantpaviljoen aan het MAS heeft een upgrade gekregen. Dankzij een videowall kunnen bezoekers er voortaan een film van Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) bekijken over de diamantsector in Antwerpen. Met een tablet waarop de applicatie ‘Antwerp loves diamonds’ staat, wordt de beleving nog verder versterkt.
