The Antwerp World Diamond Centre, representative of the Antwerp diamond industry, and the Province of Antwerp, will present the ‘Antwerp Diamond Masterplan – Diamonds love Antwerp 2020’ during the inauguration of the Diamond Pavilion at the MAS by Governor Cathy Berx.

 

The eight-year plan, set two prime objectives: To build growth and innovation opportunities; and to build trust and confidence within the industry and with external stakeholders

 

The goals were drafted in a 'vision document' and analysis following a series of meetings with the Antwerp province that gave voice to frustrations and fears from within the diamond industry and the subsequent formation of a steering committee.

 

A central concern was maintaining Antwerp's leading role in the diamond industry. The diamond center is a leading contributor to Belgium's economy.

 

The paper identified five key elements needed to achieve the objectives:

• Growing Antwerp as a Diamond Trading Hub
• Antwerp as a Diamond Knowledge Centre
• Education and Transparency
• Community Integration and City Experience
• Job Creation 

"The project 2020 Antwerp Diamond Masterplan paves the way for the transformation of Antwerp’s 550 year diamond trade into a vibrant, expanding sector of Belgian business," AWDC said on the reasons for the plan.

 

"It is a work in progress that will help the market transition from its traditionally rigid stance to an agile, strategically driven, professional and highly motivated enterprise that leads the international diamond industry'" it added.

 

AWDC believes it won’t take until 2015 to implement this strategic plan, saying that 40-50 percent of the strategic plan will be initiated before the end of 2012.

 

The opening of the MAS | Diamond Pavilion by Governor Cathy Berx today is a step in implementing the education side of the plan. The Diamond Pavilion, a joint venture of AWDC and the Provincial Diamond Museum of Antwerp, explains why Antwerp is called the global diamond center, and shows who is active in the diamond trade, now and before.

 

The pavilion tells the rich history, the economic importance and many other aspects of this typical Antwerp activity.

 

The Diamond Pavilion also presents the famous diamond ECC tennis racket, set with 1,167 diamonds cut in Antwerp; the city shield and jewelry from the Napoleonic era.

 

About the diamond industry in Antwerp:

• Some 80 percent of all rough diamonds and 50 percent of all polished diamonds pass through Antwerp.
• Belgium is the biggest exporter of diamonds in the world, exporting $27 billion in 2011.
• Diamonds represent 8.25 percent of the Belgian export and 15 percent of the Belgian import outside the EU.
• Within the EU, diamond is the biggest Belgian export product.

The economic importance of the Antwerp diamond sector:

• Annual turnover is more than €42 billion.
• Diamonds account for an added value of €1.5 billion for Belgium.
• The diamond industry creates more than 34,000 jobs (direct and indirect) in Flanders.
• The diamond industry annually fiscal and parafiscal contribution is €300-€800 million.
• For several countries, diamond is the number 1 import product from Belgium, including India, China and Russia.
• Diamond represents 86 percent of exports to India.
• There are 1,850 registered diamond traders in Antwerp.
• More than 70 nationalities live and work together in harmony In Antwerp's diamond district.