Belgium, Alrosa Want Expanded Relations

Belgium’s Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and Alrosa’s new President Sergey Vybornov discussed the development of the international diamond market during a meeting at Alrosa’s diamond trading arm, United Selling Organization of Alrosa (USO ALROSA).

The two agreed to expand the agreement between ALROSA, the Diamond Chamber of Russia, the Russian Diamond Manufacturers Association, and the Antwerp HRD signed in October 2002.

“The existing cooperation between ALROSA and the Antwerp World Diamond Centre has a lot of potential. We would only wish to expand it. Especially since a number of legislative and tax measures to facilitate diamond business were taken in Belgium,” Verhofstadt said.

The October 2002 agreement includes cooperation in education, information exchange, and marketing.