The City of Antwerp, in the presence of Mayor Bart De Wever organized a mission to Seoul between 11 through 14 December. The Antwerp World Diamond Centre is a partner to this mission.

A key objective of this mission is to promote the Antwerp diamond industry. Antwerp’s market share in South Korea, a growing market for polished diamonds, is yet limited and the mission is being viewed as one to help propell this in a more positive light by strenghtening ties.

The City’s mission to Seoul provided a strong platfrom for the Antwerp diamond industry to promote its strengths and advantages and to use them as a starting point to strengthen the commercial ties between the two markets.

Various networking events were organized during this visit, to strengthen the ties between the two cities and establish new contacts. AWDC will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Korea Jeweller Confederation Association to further explore collaboration between the two organizations. It is anticipated that in future, the Koreans will increasingly connect with the Antwerp diamond industry.

The government of South Korea has identified the jewelry market as one of the key sectors for promoting Korean craftsmanship and increasing employment in the jewelry industry. The demand for diamonds from the industry is currently growing substantially. The South Korean market thus offers a tremendous opportunity for the Antwerp diamond industry, and vice-versa. Antwerp’s expertise, critial mass and reputation could serve as a driver providing support to the continued growth of the Korean jewelry industry.