Alrosa and AWDC together held a high-level networking evening in cooperation with the Belgian Ambassador in Russia, Mr. Alex Van Meeuwen, underscoring the healthy collaborations held between the diamond market of Antwerp and Alrosa the leading diamond producer. Today, around 17 of the 47 companies with which Alrosa has long-term contracts with are headquartered in Antwerp making this home to the largest number of Alrosa’s long-term customers.

The networking event took place in the margins of Alrosa’s diamond tender period and at the Belgian Ambassador’s residence in Moscow. Among those in attendance were: the Governor of the Province of Antwerp, Ms. Cathy Berx; the President of Alrosa, Mr. Andrey Zharkov; representatives of the AWDC Board of Directors, Mr. Ramesh Patel and Mr. Jacques Weisz; representatives from the Gokhran - the State Precious Metals and Gems Repository - and several senior officials from the Russian government. Thirty-three Belgian companies including 15 long-term contract holders attended. During the event, companies without an exclusive contract with Alrosa had the opportunity to establish contacts with the world’s largest diamond producer.

The event was key to Antwerp diamond traders as Russia 24 percent of all rough diamonds imported to Antwerp come from Russia. Antwerp, and by extension the European Union, is also the most important export market for Russian diamonds.

Speaking of the strong ties between the two countries, Alrosa president Zharkov emphasized that the very first long-term Alrosa contracts were closed in the city on the Scheldt, and not by coincidence. In the same vein, AWDC president Stéphane Fischler spoke about the fruitful collaboration between AWDC and Alrosa, and the leadership roles they fulfill, which would be in future reinforced, illustrated for instance by the appointment of Alrosa vice president Andrey Polyakov as the next president of the World Diamond Council.