Angola and Antwerp Partner to Strengthen Rough-Trade Relations 

The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) and Angola have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together for the benefit of both parties regarding rough diamonds. 

Antwerp will share its expertise with the African country on developing a Group of Seven (G7) export verification point for rough diamonds, the AWDC said last week. The Belgian diamond center is currently collaborating with Botswana to establish a similar node there, providing technical expertise and guidance on diamond control and certification, it explained. 

“We can provide them with practical and technical tools to help make a G7 verification point in Angola a reality in the future,” said AWDC CEO Karen Rentmeesters. “We are more than willing to share our blueprint, which meets today’s compliance and transparency requirements.” 

In return, Angola will send more rough diamonds through Antwerp shipping nodes. As the third-largest producer of rough diamonds, Angola is a critical partner for Antwerp, AWDC noted.  

“We firmly believe that the share of direct imports of Angolan rough diamonds can grow significantly,” said AWDC chairman Isidore Morsel. “Antwerp offers a number of key advantages: proximity to the world’s largest jewelry brands, its status as the most transparent and reliable diamond-trading center, and the large number of potential buyers of rough diamonds.” 

The parties signed the agreement on November 27 following the Facets international diamond conference in Belgium.

Image: The signing of the MoU. (Antwerp World Diamond Centre)

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