Antwerp: The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), the world leader in diamond trade, participates in the Mine Entra exhibition in Zimbabwe for the first time. “Now that the European sanctions are lifted, the way is open for intensive collaboration between Zimbabwe and the main commercial center for diamonds,” said Ari Epstein, CEO of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre.

84% of all rough diamonds and 50% of all polished diamonds pass through Antwerp today. That makes Antwerp the world’s most important trade center. Now that the European sanctions have been lifted, partly under pressure from Antwerp, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre was able to descend to Zimbabwe to take part in the Mine Entra Fair.

Antwerp is important for Zimbabwe. Ari Epstein, CEO of AWDC: “In recent months we have organized a number of tenders, auctions through which Zimbabwe has been able to sell rough diamonds at a very good price.”

Antwerp can generate an optimal market for Zimbabwean rough diamonds because of the large number of potential buyers that are located in Antwerp. In total, about 1700 diamond companies operate in Antwerp.

“The good sales prices have a positive impact on the market, the mining revenues and the increasing demand for transparency in the market,” said Ari Epstein. “These higher revenues are a crucial element of the sustainable social and economic development of Zimbabwe.”