The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) and Angola signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen trade relations, ensuring more Angolan rough diamonds find their way to Antwerp.
The MoU was signed by the AWDC and Angola’s state-owned companies Endiama and SODIAM, which manage diamond mining and sales, respectively.
The signing occurred on November 27 during a working visit following FACETS 2024.
AWDC said in a statement that the agreement provides the southern African country with an opportunity to gain insights and expertise concerning the potential establishment of a G7 export verification point for rough diamonds.
Angola is considered a critical partner for Antwerp’s diamond industry as the third-largest producer of rough diamonds and a supplier of high-quality stones.
“We firmly believe that the share of direct imports of Angolan rough diamonds can grow significantly,” said AWDC chairperson Isidore Morsel.
“Antwerp offers several key advantages: proximity to the world’s largest jewellery brands, its status as the most transparent and reliable diamond trading centre, and the large number of potential buyers of rough diamonds.”
Both parties are committed to actively promoting Angolan rough diamonds in Antwerp.
AWDC said it seeks to inform Angola about the implications and opportunities of establishing a G7 verification point.
“We can provide them with practical and technical tools to help make a G7 verification point in Angola a reality in the future,” said AWDC chief executive Karen Rentmeesters.
“We are more than willing to share our blueprint, which meets today’s compliance and transparency requirements.”
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor-In-Chief, Rough & Polished
