MUMBAI: Addressing leading diamond traders and business leaders at the Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) in Mumbai, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever commended the enduring commercial synergy between India and Belgium, characterizing the two economies as natural complements in the global gem and jewelry trade.
Highlighting the interconnected strengths of India and Antwerp, De Wever observed that while India serves as the undisputed processing and manufacturing capital of the world, Belgium provides the preeminent international trading hub and distribution infrastructure. He noted that over recent decades, the Indian diamond sector has evolved from a low-cost cutting and polishing base into a world-class manufacturing center defined by precision technology, cutting more than 9 out of 10 of the world’s diamonds and growing into the second-largest consumer market for finished diamond jewelry.
“You have the workshop of the world, and we have the place where the world meets,” De Wever stated, emphasizing Antwerp’s centuries-old trading standards, grading reliability, and global networks. He welcomed the launch of the new HRD Antwerp office in Mumbai and highlighted the momentum surrounding the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, commending duty rationalization on polished diamonds while advocating for minimal tariffs and predictable trade rules to boost bilateral investments in logistics, high-tech engineering, and gems.
