(IDEX Online News) – The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) organized a diamond networking event in Luanda, Angola, on October 22 in the framework of a Belgian Economic Mission to Angola led by Princess Astrid, the sister of King Philip of Belgium.

 

Antwerp diamond companies were able to meet with the key players in the Angolan diamond industry, such as government officials, representatives from state-owned diamond firms Endiama and Sodiam, and local and international diamond mining and manufacturing companies.

 

With Angola celebrating 100 years of diamonds in Angola earlier this year, AWDC CEO Ari Epstein, said, “Both Angola and Antwerp were at the cradle of the modern diamond industry and have enjoyed excellent relationships ever since. Angola started its leading role as the voice of the interests of the African producing countries while Antwerp laid the foundations as the world’s prime diamond trading hub.”

 

Stephane Fischler, the president of AWDC, said: “I am convinced and have good reasons to believe, that our relations will not only continue but will be strengthened to our industry’s benefit. A relationship in which both of us, strongholds of our industry, choose the path of working together, united and focused on ensuring profitable growth and a brilliant and fair future for all,” he concluded.

 

The economic mission involves high-level meetings between Angolan and Belgian officials, networking opportunities and workshops, and connecting Belgian companies from many industries with their Angolan counterparts.