HRD Antwerp to Open Moscow Grading Lab

RAPAPORT… HRD Antwerp will launch a grading center in Moscow, its
first in Russia, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) said Tuesday.



The diamond-certification organization, a subsidiary of the
AWDC, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russian Deputy Finance
Minister Alexei Vladimirovich Moiseev during the Kimberley Process intersessional
in Antwerp this week.



“This collaboration will further enhance confidence in the
diamond and jewelry market in Russia and worldwide,” said Ari Epstein,
president of the board of directors for HRD Antwerp. The MoU is an important
step in highlighting Russia as an industry leader for transparency, he added.



The signing took place in the presence of Ludo Van
Campenhout, Antwerp’s alderman for diamonds.