Image credit: AWDC
From the 22nd until the 27th of March, his and her Majesty, the King and Queen of Belgium, are on an official visit to the Republic of South Africa to emphasize the strong bilateral relations between both countries. During their visit, His Majesty the King has visited the “diamond and jewellery precinct” in the Gauteng Industrial Developmental Zone (GIDZ) including a visit to the new Pluczenik diamond polishing facility, AWDC reported.
AWDC has always maintained strong relations with the South African diamond industry, nearly doubling diamond exports from South Africa to Belgium in most recent years.
South Africa produces on average 9 million carats a year, valued between 1,3 and 1,8 billion dollars. In 2021 diamond exports represented 21,35% of the total South African exports to Belgium, making it the biggest export product to Belgium.
Ari Epstein – CEO AWDC: ”AWDC has an undeniably strong relationship with South Africa. The fruitful cooperation between Antwerp and South Africa is particularly noticeable in the exports from South Africa to Antwerp growing from 1,4 million carats in 2019 to 2,9 million carats in 2021, making diamonds the most important export product of South Africa to Belgium.”
Almost 40% of the export of South African diamonds goes to Botswana where De Beers, one of the biggest diamond producers in the world and owner of several diamond mines in Southern Africa, consolidates all its diamonds for further distribution. Through the system of long-term contracts with so-called sightholders a large portion of these diamonds also find their way to Antwerp. More than a quarter of all De Beers sightholders has roots in Antwerp.
The second part of the visit focused on a visit to the Pluczenik diamond polishing factory within the GIDZ. The factory that is being constructed is a joint venture between Antwerp-based diamond trading and manufacturing company Pluczenik, with deep historic roots in RSA, and a South African entrepreneur.
Belgian diamond companies have a significant impact on the local job market in the South African diamond industry. 7 out of 10 polishing factories are owned by Belgian diamond companies. The positive results of that partnership: a rise in polished diamonds, manufactured locally, exported to Antwerp, from 196,50 million dollars in 2019 to 248,46 million dollars in 2022.
Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished
