Auger reported that during 2005, Diamdel Antwerp will channel more than $200 million of rough to the local market. “Stone by stone,” Auger stated, “we within Diamdel have for over 40 years been able to assist in supporting the requirements and aspirations of hundreds of diamantaires globally. Outlining those challenges for the Belgian market, Auger said: “Having worked in the trade for many years, I have complete faith in the ability of entrepreneurial players within the secondary industry to develop their product proposition rapidly in order to cater for the diverse requirements of the consumer. There may be those who struggle to keep ahead, but Diamdel will make every effort to assist client business sustainability where possible.”

The Diamond Producers Forum, is a new body created by the HRD, together with the Guild of Diamonds and Precious Stones (Gilde van Diamant en Edelstenen), at which major rough diamond producers will be able to outline the trade their distribution policies, and in particular explain how these policies may impact upon smaller and medium-sized producers. Originally established by De Beers in Antwerp in 1964, Diamdel supplies non DTC-sightholders in the so-called secondary rough diamond market, via branches located in leading diamond-cutting centers, including Antwerp, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Shanghai, Tel Aviv and Windhoek.

The meeting of the forum began with introductions by Peter Meeus, managing director of the HRD, and Claude Nobels, managing director of the Guild. Diamdel’s presentation was delivered by Frank Auger, managing director of Diamdel Antwerp, and James Nicholson, the company’s global communications manager.

THE inaugural meeting of the Diamond Producers’ Forum was held in Antwerp on September 29, with Diamdel, the De Beers-owned network of rough diamond dealerships, being given the first opportunity to explain their organization’s rough diamond distribution policy to the trade. During the meeting, Diamdel’s representatives revealed that, this year, more than $200 million worth of rough diamonds, or almost half of the firm’s projected $550 million of sales in 2005, will be channeled through Diamdel’s corporate headquarters in Antwerp.