HRD Antwerp inaugurated its brand new office today at the IL & FS Financial Centre in BKC. Present at the inauguration were Mr. Peter Huyghebaert, Consul General, Belgium, Mr. Ari Epstein Chairman HRD Antwerp & CEO AWDC and Mr. Ravi Chhabria, Managing Director HRD Antwerp, India. The inauguration was also graced by the presence of Mr. Peiter De Crem, Secretary of State for Foreign Trade of Belgium.

The centre is much larger as compared to the previous one, with state of the art equipment. “The diamond industry is extremely valuable to both our countries. In India it is responsible for creating a million jobs and in Belgium it employs over 30000 people, which is a substantial amount for a very small country like us. I am convinced that of all trade flows that happens in the diamond industry world over, the one between India and Belgium is the most significant,” Mr. Crem said. “This new office is a marvelous example of our international cooperation on a microscopic scale,” he added.

“As Mr. De Crem has pointed out this very special occasion not only celebrates the opening of our new office but also pays tribute to the exceptional relationship between our countries, the unquestionable leaders of the diamond trade. Without the support of the Government, HRD Antwerp India would not have experience the exponential growth in the last 5 years,” said Epstein. The inauguration concluded by a keynote address Sustainable Bank Account Access Scheme for Diamond Companies, facilitated by Swift India.