The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) and Angola have entered into a strategic partnership to enhance their collaboration in the rough diamond sector. This new agreement aims to boost compliance, transparency, and economic growth for both parties.
A New Era of Verification and Expertise
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on November 27, Antwerp will share its expertise with Angola to develop a Group of Seven (G7) export verification point for rough diamonds. This initiative is part of AWDC’s ongoing efforts to establish similar compliance hubs, like the one in collaboration with Botswana.
“We are more than willing to share our blueprint, which meets today’s compliance and transparency requirements,” said Karen Rentmeesters, AWDC CEO. “We can provide practical and technical tools to help make a G7 verification point in Angola a reality.”
Angola's Growing Role in Diamond Trade
As the third-largest producer of rough diamonds globally, Angola is a critical partner for Antwerp. The AWDC emphasized the advantages Antwerp offers, including:
- Proximity to the world’s largest jewelry brands.
- A reputation as the most transparent and reliable diamond-trading center.
- Access to a large pool of potential buyers for rough diamonds.
“We firmly believe the share of direct imports of Angolan rough diamonds can grow significantly,” said Isidore Morsel, AWDC chairman.
Strengthening Trade Ties
In return for technical support, Angola has agreed to channel more of its rough diamonds through Antwerp’s shipping nodes, further cementing the city’s role as a global diamond hub. The agreement was signed following the Facets international diamond conference in Belgium.
This partnership marks a significant step in aligning Angola’s diamond exports with global compliance standards while reinforcing Antwerp’s position as a leader in ethical and efficient diamond trade.