The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) stated that it has taken note of the announcement by the Federal Public Service Economy that the EU has lifted the restrictive measures on Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC). Following this, the AWDC informed the same through a notice which read as that:

“The European Commission has informed us that the COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 915/2013 of 23 September 2013 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 314/2004 concerning certain restrictive measures in respect of Zimbabwe has been published.

This amendment has been published in the Official Journal of the EU, nr L252/23 of September 24th, 2013. Please be advised that annex III to Regulation (EC) No 314/2004 is amended as follows:

The following entry is deleted from the heading ‘II. Entities’:

Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation.

Therefore imports of rough diamonds into the European Union from this entity are allowed from 25-09-2013 onwards.

Imports from the other companies linked to this entity are also allowed:

- Marange Resources,

- Canadile

- Mbada,

- Kimberworth Investments

- Diamond Mining Corporation (DMC)

The rough diamonds have to be packed in a tamper resistant container and accompanied by a valid Kimberley Process Certificate for entry into the EU.”

As the world’s most important trade centre in rough diamonds we have always respected the EU restrictive measures. Thanks to the support of the Belgian authorities, the decision to lift the restrictive measures will result in diamonds commercialized by the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe - MMCZ, to be sold at their optimal market value instead of the current lower prices in other markets.

This opening of the market for Antwerp based trading companies should have a positive impact on the functioning of the market, mining income, on the necessary market transparency and importantly on a sustainable social and economic development of Zimbabwe. In addition, this decision will also improve the position of the EU within the KPCS. The EU decision to maintain restrictive measures was incompatible with the decision taken at the KPCS Plenary meeting on November 30th 2012, to lift all measures on the trade of Marange diamonds.