Belgium Helping Ivory Coast Resume Diamond Trading

(IDEX Online) – Belgium’s Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs and the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) are helping the Ivory Coast government set up a monitoring system so that it will be able to adhere to the strict conditions of the Kimberley Process, and resume its diamond trade.

The AWDC has trained three senior Ivorian officials to become diamond experts, with the eight-week training program funded by the FPS Foreign Affairs. It aimed to provide the Ivorians with the necessary knowledge to estimate the value of diamonds, and about the KP’s stringent regulations and how that knowledge can be applied to everyday practice.

"In 2003, the UN imposed sanctions on Ivory Coast, forcing the country to stop trading diamonds,” said AWDC spokeswoman Margaux Donckier. “The sanctions were put in place because the risk of conflict diamonds entering the regular circuit would have been too great otherwise.

"As Belgium has been one of the driving forces behind the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme since the very beginning, the Ivory Coast appealed to us to help them set up a supervisory body. The FPS Foreign Affairs and the Antwerp World Diamond Centre are glad to help Ivory Coast by providing knowledge and expertise. The FPS Foreign Affairs believes that the development of Ivory Coast, Belgium’s position as a major diamond trading hub, and the diamond trade in general will all benefit from fair diamond trade.

“Now that the Ivory Coast’s political situation has stabilized and its economy is recovering, diamond production is back in the picture. But in order to actually start trading again, Ivory Coast must meet the stringent requirements of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, and the Ivorian government must establish a control panel.”

Experts believe Ivory Coast has the potential to produce 150 to 200,000 carats of rough diamonds annually in the years ahead, representing a value of $25 million, the AWDC said in a statement.

Ivory Coast will launch its new control panel on 1 January. The UN will follow developments closely and will publish an assessment report every six months. In addition, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme’s own control panel will be visiting Ivory Coast to see if all conditions are being met, and to formulate recommendations if necessary, the AWDC added.