S82E04-okt_nov_dec

BelgiĂŤ - Belgique P.B. 2600 Berchem 1 - 2de afd.

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DE BELGISCHE DIAMANTNIJVERHEID Hoveniersstraat 22 - 2018 Antwerpen Driemaandelijks

oktober / november / december 2012

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82e jaargang, nr 4, oktober / november / december 2012

de belgische diamantnijverheid Periodieke uitgave van het Syndikaat der Belgische Diamantnijverheid Periodical Publication of the Syndicate of the Belgian Diamond Industry

editoriaal

Verantwoordelijke uitgever Responsable editor Eduard Denckens Dennenlaan 2 2243 Zandhoven

Redactie en Publiciteit Editorial Office and Publicity SBD Hoveniersstraat 22, 2018 Antwerpen Tel. : 03/233.11.29 - Fax : 03/227.46.30 e-mail: sbd@sbd.be

Redactiecomité Editorial Board Eduard Denckens, Jos Heiremans, Dirk Loots, Linda Vancauwenberghe, Yvan Verbraeck

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Voor de Antwerpse diamantwereld vormde het 35ste Werelddiamantcongres, dat midden oktober in Mumbai, dus voor de allereerste maal in zijn geschiedenis in India gehouden werd, een verademing. Maar ook de midden november in Victoria Falls gehouden Zimbabwe Diamond Conference droeg daar ongetwijfeld in hoge mate toe bij.

Op de voornoemde Diamantcongressen werd echter duidelijk gemaakt dat sinds de invoering van het Kimberley Process Certificates Scheme nieuwe opvattingen inzake conflictdiamanten zijn opgedoken. Op het 35ste Werelddiamantcongres in Mumbai verklaarde Eli Izhakoff als voorzitter van de World Diamond Council (WDC) dat “wij een hervorming van het Kimberley Process Certification System gunstig gezind zijn met de bedoeling het doeltreffender en efficiënter te maken in de wereld zoals die er 10 jaar na de invoering van KPCS uitziet. Wij verdedigen krachtig de totstandbrenging van een permanent Administratief Ondersteuningsmechanisme dat de continuïteit zal verzekeren en de efficiëntie van de actieve afdelingen van KP zal verbeteren.” Waar hij aan toevoegde “dat in juli jongstleden de raad van bestuur van de WDC op zijn voorstel de oprichting goedgekeurd heeft van een stuurgroep, voorgezeten door ondervoorzitter Andy Bone, die zich moet buigen over de herstructurering van de KPC in termen van lidmaatschap, financiering en administratie.” En Eli Izhakoff besloot met te zeggen “dat er geen twijfel over kan bestaan dat het KP

tot op heden goed is geweest voor de industrie en ons engagement getoond heeft ten overstaan wat Mahatma Gandhi ‘commerce with morality’ genoemd heeft.

In zijn speech op de Zimbabwe Diamond Conference sloot Stephane Fischler, voorzitter van het Antwerp World Diamond Centre zich in belangrijke mate bij de woorden van Eli Izhakoff aan toen hij zei “dat de centrale doelstelling van het Kimberley Process er altijd in bestaan heeft de gemeenschappen en landen via een eerlijk, doorzichtig en internationaal erkend handelssysteem te laten profiteren van hun diamantproductie. In 2000 was de wereldwijde diamantindustrie ervan overtuigd dat conflictdiamanten in ontwikkelingsdiamanten zouden moeten omgebogen worden als de beste manier om conflicten in de toekomst te vermijden en aldus vooral in de Afrikaanse diamantproducerende landen economische en sociale welvaart in het leven te roepen. Tien jaar na dat belangrijke ogenblik moeten we ons voor ogen houden dat het KP hervormd zou moeten worden om efficiënter te worden en aldus het vertrouwen van de consument te vergroten. Wanneer we over een hervorming van het KP spreken zou ik, net zoals de huidige KPvoorzitter herhaaldelijk onderstreept heeft, niet zozeer aan een revolutie te denken maar meer aan een evolutie, d.w.z. de goede elementen bewaren, en de zwakke componenten herzien en aanpassen waar nodig. (De volledige speech van Stephane Fischler staat verder in dit blad te lezen).

Intussen zou het natuurlijk verkeerd zijn te denken dat het KP het enige punt op de dagorde van de twee congressen is geweest. Het garanderen door de producenten van een regelmatige ruwbevoorrading omdat dit op zijn beurt de fabrikanten in staat zal stellen hun klanten een regelmatige en constante bevoorrading van geslepen goederen te garanderen. Daarop legde uittredend IDMAvoorzitter Moti Ganz in zijn uiteenzetting de nadruk op het 35ste Werelddiamantcongres. Varda Shine, CEO van de Diamond Trading Company (DTC) van De Beers wees er van haar kant op dat, nu Botswana tot het wereldwijde centrum voor het sorteren en de verkoop van de DTC is opgewaardeerd, Zuid-Afrika de leidinggevende regio voor de ruwbevoorrading van de wereldwijde diamantindustrie is geworden. In zijn toespraak,

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waarmee hij dit 35ste Werelddiamantcongres officieel voor open verklaarde, liet Vipul Shah er geen twijfel over bestaan dat India een steeds grotere rol in de werelddiamanthandel en –industrie wil gaan spelen. Als nieuw verkozen voorzitter van de Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) beklemtoonde hij dat India nu reeds verantwoordelijk is voor 85% van het totale karaatvolume dat in de wereld geslepen wordt en riep alle aanwezigen op “om de generische marketing van diamanten te helpen ontwikkelen als een manier om de consumentenmarkten te laten groeien.” Pritviraj Chavan, eerste minister van Maharashtra noemde ”India het land met de tweede grootste bevolking ter wereld, wat grote mogelijkheden inhoudt om de lokale consumptie van diamant en diamantjuwelen op te voeren.” Dit is volgens hem zeker waar daar “het lokale nationaal product jaarlijks met 8 tot 9% gegroeid is en verwacht wordt dat het dit jaar zelfs met 11% zal groeien.”

Van zijn kant stelde de nieuwgekozen voorzitter van de World Federation of Diamond Bourses, Ernie Blom, dat “we nu stap voor stap in de richting moeten gaan van het overstappen van praten naar actie om op die manier onze organisatie toonaangevend in de diamantindustrie te maken.”

Wereldcongressen zijn ook de traditionele gelegenheden waar nieuwe raden van bestuur voor de volgende ambtsperiode gekozen worden. Op de slotzitting kozen de IDMA-leden Maxim Shkadov, CEO van het Russische OAO Kristall, tot voorzitter.

Dienstdoende secretaris-generaal, Ronnie Vander Linden en dienstdoende penningmeester, Stephane Fischler, werden voor een nieuwe ambtsperiode herkozen. Drie dienstdoende ondervoorzitters, met name Vasant Mehta uit India, Ronny Friedman uit de USA Eduard Denckens uit België werden eveneens herkozen. En David de Toledo en Edward Asscher werden tot nieuwe ondervoorzitters gekozen.

Maxim Shkadov loofde het werk dat door zijn voorganger, Moti Ganz, gedurende twee ambtstermijnen geleverd werd en riep in een interview met ‘Rough & Polished’ de diamantmijnen op tot het in het leven roepen van een ‘Diamant-OPEC’.

En wij besluiten dit editoriaal graag met bijzonder goed nieuws voor SBD. Het Grondwettelijk Hof heeft inderdaad in een arrest uitspraak gedaan over

de grondwettelijkheid van het ‘sociaal plan’. Dat is vanzelfsprekend bijzonder positief. Het arrest gaat nu terug naar het Arbeidshof, dat eventueel nog een paar aanvullende vragen kan stellen. Na deze barrière is het dan definitief afgelopen en is geen verdere

doorverwijzing mogelijk tenzij er nog vormfouten zouden kunnen gevonden worden.

Eduard Denckens Voorzitter SBD Ondervoorzitter IDMA

éditorial Le 35e Congrès mondial du diamant qui s’est tenu à la mioctobre à Mumbai, donc pour la première fois de son histoire en Inde, a constitué un soulagement pour le monde diamantaire anversois. La Zimbabwe Diamond Conference qui s’est tenue à la mi-octobre à Victoria Falls, y a aussi fortement contribué.

Les deux congrès diamantaires en question ont toutefois clairement fait apparaître que depuis le lancement du Kimberley Process Certificates Scheme, des idées nouvelles sont apparues concernant les diamants de sang. Au 35e Congrès mondial du diamant à Mumbai, Eli Izhakoff a déclaré, en sa qualité de président du World Diamond Council (WDC) que «nous sommes en faveur d’une réforme du Kimberley Process Certification System en vue de le rendre plus efficace et efficient dans le monde tel qu’il se présente dix ans après l’introduction du KPCS. Nous défendons vigoureusement la constitution d’un mécanisme permanent administratif de soutien qui assure la continuité et qui améliore l’efficacité des départements actifs du KP.» Et d’ajouter qu’en juillet dernier, le conseil d’administration du WDC a approuvé, sur sa proposition, la création d’un groupe de travail, présidé par le vice-président Andy Bone, qui doit se pencher sur la restructuration du KPC en terme d’affiliation, de financement et d’administration. Eli Izhakoff a conclu en disant qu’ «il n’y peut y avoir aucun doute sur le fait que le KP ait été une bonne chose jusqu’à présent pour l’industrie et qu’il a montré notre engagement vis-à-vis de ce que le Mahatma Gandhi a qualifié de ‘commerce with morality’».

Dans son discours lors de la Zimbabwe Diamond Conference, Stéphane Fischler, président de l’Antwerp World Diamond Centre, s’est fortement associé aux paroles d’Eli Izhakoff lorsqu’il a déclaré que «l’objectif principal du Kimberley Process a toujours été de faire en sorte que les communautés et les pays profitent de leur production diamantaire par le biais d’un système commercial honnête, transparent et internationalement reconnu. En 2000, l’industrie diamantaire mondiale était convaincue de ce que les diamants de sang devaient devenir des diamants de développement: ce serait la meilleure manière pour éviter des conflits à l’avenir, et ainsi de créer un bien-être économique et social, surtout dans les pays africains producteurs de diamants. Dix ans après ce moment historique, nous devons admettre que le KP devrait être réformé pour devenir plus efficace et ainsi augmenter la confiance du consommateur. Lorsque nous parlons d’une réforme du KP, et comme l’actuel président du KP l’a souligné à plusieurs reprises, je ne pense pas tellement à une révolution mais plutôt à une évolution, c’est-à-dire qu’il faut conserver les bons éléments et revoir les composants faibles et adapter là où c’est nécessaire.»

(Le texte complet du discours de Stéphane Fischler figure plus loin dans ce numéro).

Il serait toutefois erroné de croire que le KP a été le seul

point à l’ordre du jour des deux congrès. La garantie par les producteurs d’un approvisionnement régulier en brut, parce que cela permettra à son tour aux fabricants de garantir à leurs clients un approvisionnement régulier et constant en marchandises taillées: c’est sur ce point que le président sortant de l’IDMA Moti Ganz a mis l’accent lors de son exposé au 35e Congrès mondial du diamant. De son côté, Varda Shine, CEO de la Diamond Trading Company (DTC) de De Beers, a souligné que c’est maintenant le Botswana qui est devenu le centre mondial du tri et des ventes de la DTC, l’Afrique du Sud étant devenue la région dominante pour l’approvisionnement en brut de l’industrie mondiale du diamant.

Dans son discours officiel d’ouverture du 35e Congrès de l’industrie diamantaire mondiale, Vipul Shah n’a laissé planer aucun doute sur le fait que l’Inde veut jouer un rôle croissant dans le commerce et l’industrie diamantaires. En tant que nouveau président élu du Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), il a insisté sur le fait que l’Inde est déjà responsable pour 85% du volume total en carats qui est taillé dans le monde, et il a appelé tous les participants à «développer le marketing générique des diamants afin de faire en sorte que les marchés de consommation augmentent.»

Pritviraj Chavan, premier ministre du Maharashtra, a rappelé que «l’Inde est le deuxième pays au monde en matière de population, ce qui présente de grandes possibilités pour augmenter la consommation locale de diamant et de bijoux diamantaires.» Selon lui, c’est certainement possible étant donné que «le produit national indien a augmenté tous les ans de 8 à 9% et l’on s’attend même cette année à 11%.»

De son côté, le nouveau président élu de la World Federation of Diamond Bourses, Ernie Blom, a déclaré que «petit à petit, nous allons devoir passer des paroles aux actes afin que notre organisation donne le ton dans l’industrie diamantaire.»

Les congrès mondiaux sont aussi l’occasion d’élire de nouveaux conseils d’administration pour les mandats suivants. Lors de la séance de clôture, les membres de l’IDMA ont élu Maxim Shkadov, CEO de la société russe OAO Kristall, comme président. Le secrétaire-général faisant fonction Ronnie Vander Linden et le trésorier faisant fonction Stéphane Fischler ont été réélus pour un nouveau mandat. Trois vice-présidents faisant fonction, à savoir Vasant Mehta d’Inde, Ronny Friedman des Etats-Unis et Eduard Denckens de Belgique ont également été réélus. David de Toledo et Edward Asscher ont été élus nouveaux vice-présidents.

Maxim Shkadov a loué le travail de son prédécesseur Moti Ganz durant deux mandats et, dans une interview avec ‘Rough & Polished’, il a demandé aux mines de diamants de constituer un ‘Diamant-OPEC’.

Et nous concluons cet éditorial avec une bonne nouvelle pour

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le SBD. La Cour constitutionnelle a en effet prononcé un arrêt concernant la constitutionnalité du ‘plan social’. C’est bien entendu très positif. L’arrêt retourne maintenant à la Cour du Travail, qui peut encore éventuellement poser quelques questions complémentaires. Après cet obstacle, l’affaire sera

réglée et il n’y aura plus de recours possible, hormis d’éventuels vices de forme.

Eduard Denckens Président du SBD Vice-président de l’IDMA

editorial The 35th World Diamond Congress, which was organized mid October in Mumbai, i.e. for the very first time in its history in India, provided much relief to the Antwerp diamond world.

But the Zimbabwe Diamond Conference, which was held mid November in Victoria Falls also largely contributed to it.

At both diamond congresses it was made clear that since the introduction of the Kimberley Process Certificates Scheme new definitions for conflict diamonds have arisen. At the 35th World Diamond Congress in Mumbai, Eli Izhakoff, president of the World Diamond Council, emphasized that “we are certainly in favour of a reform of the Kimberley Process Certification System to make it more effective and efficient in a world that exists years after the KPCS was first introduced. We strongly endorse the establishment of a permanent Administrative Support Mechanism, which will ensure the continuity and improve the efficiency of KP’s working bodies.” He added at the same time that “this July, the WDC board approved, as per my recommendation, the creation of a Steering Committee that will examine the restructuring of the council in terms of membership, financing and administration and which is headed by vice president Andy Bone”. Eli Izhakoff concluded by saying “that there can be no doubt that until now the KP has been good for our industry and has demonstrated our commitment to what Mahatma Gandhi would have termed ‘commerce with morality’.”

In his speech at the Zimbabwe Diamond Conference, Stéphane Fischler largely agreed with Eli Izhakoff when saying “that the core goal of the Kimberley Process has always been allowing communities and countries to benefit from their diamond production through a fair, transparent and internationally recognized trading system. In 2000 the global diamond industry was convinced that conflict diamonds should be transformed into development diamonds, as the best agent to prevent future conflicts, creating economic and social wellbeing , especially in African diamond producing countries. 10 years after that important moment, we have to bear in mind that the KP should be reformed in order to become more efficient, in order to strengthen consumer confidence. When we speak of a KP reform, I would, as the current KP chair has repeatedly stated, not think of it as a revolution but more as an evolution, i.e. keeping the good element, reviewing the weak components and adjusting where necessary. (The complete speech of Stéphane Fischler is to be found further in this issue).

In the meantime, it would of course be wrong to think that the KP was the only point on the agenda of the two congresses.

Outgoing IDMA president Moti Ganz urged the diamond producers “to give manufacturers stronger backing by vouching for rough supplies that will in turn enable the manufacturers to commit to their clients with consistent and continuous supplies of polished diamonds. Varda Shine, CEO of the Diamond

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Trading Company (DTC) of De Beers, noted, as far as she was concerned, that with Botswana becoming the DTC’s global rough sorting and selling system, Southern Africa would become the leading region for rough supplies to the global diamond industry since it was home to many rough diamond sources.

In his speech, with which he declared the 35th World Diamond Congress open, Vipul Shah highlighted the fact that India will play an ever growing role in the world diamond trade and industry. As the newly elected chairman of the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) Shah emphasized that already now India is responsible for 85% of the world’s caratage and 90% of the volume in diamond manufacturing and he called on all to help to develop a generic marketing for diamonds in order to assist with the growth of retail markets.

Pritviraj Chavan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, called India “the country with world’s second largest population, offering great opportunities to grow the local diamond and jewellery consumer sales. According to the same speaker, this is all the more true as the local GDP has been growing at 8-9% annually while the current year was expected to grow 11%.

As the newly elected president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) Ernie Blom said that “we need to take a step by step forward ensuring that we move ‘from talk to action’ and bring in this way our organization to the forefront of the diamond industry.”

World congresses are traditionally the occasions where new boards of management are appointed. At its concluding meeting the IDMA members elected Maxim Shkadov, CEO of the Russian OAO Kristall, as its new president. Incumbent secretary general Ronnie Vander Linden and incumbent treasurer Stéphane Fischler were both re-elected another term in office. Three incumbent vice presidents, Vasant Mehta of India, Ronnie Friedman of the USA and Eduard Denckens of Belgium were also re-elected. In addition, David de Toledo of Israel and Edward Asscher of the Netherlands were elected to serve as vice presidents.

Maxim Shkadov lauded the work done by outgoing president Moti Ganz for his two terms in office and in an interview with ‘Rough & Polished’ he pleaded for the creation of a ‘diamond OPEC’.

We like to end the editorial with good news for the SBD. The Constitutional Board has indeed given a decision in a decree on the constitutional character of the ‘Social Plan’. That is of course an extremely positive event. Now the decree goes back to the Labour Court which can eventually ask some supplementary questions. After this barrier it completely over and no further referring is possible unless technicalities could be found.

Eduard Denckens President SBD Vice president IDMA

DDII kiks off annual industry fundraising campaign AWDC and IDMA make first contributions The Diamond Development Initiative International (DDII) has opened its annual industry fundraising campaign, and the first contributions have been made by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA).

Fair prices, safe working conditions, education, human rights: these are what DDII is working on at the grass roots of the African and South American diamond industry. “Support from IDMA and AWDC is very important to us,” said DDII Executive Director, Dorothée Gizenga, “because these two organizations represent such a broad cross-section of the industry. One of the best ways industry can show its commitment is through international trade associations like AWDC and IDMA.” AWDC is the coordinating body and the official representative of the Antwerp diamond sector, and as such is recognized internationally as the host, spokesperson and intermediary for the Belgian diamond community. AWDC is fully engaged in fostering high standards of Corporate Social Responsibility in the industry. IDMA, founded in 1946, is committed to promote the highest ideals of honesty and best practice principles throughout the diamond industry worldwide, as well as full compliance with all relevant national and international laws.

Stephane Fischler, President of AWDC said, “We hope that our contribution will encourage others in the industry to join this campaign and to help build a solid base for DDII’s excellent work in Africa and South America. DDII is working to improve the lives of people who are very much part of our industry.”

Ronnie VanderLinden, Secretary General of IDMA, echoed the theme. “I have followed DDII’s work on fair prices for artisanal diamond diggers, its work on human rights and its efforts to improve the Kimberley Process, and I know this is an organization worthy of our industry’s support. We hope others will follow our lead” DDII was started five years ago as a way of bringing industry, governments and civil society together to tackle the problem of Africa’s 1.5 million artisanal diamond diggers. The diamonds they produce and the places they work are where conflict diamonds began and where the potential for renewed violence remains. Although the diamond wars have ended and the Kimberley Process tracks the international rough diamond trade, little has changed for the average digger, who earns a dollar a day, working under appalling conditions.

“The Diamond Development Initiative is working on a diamond industry problem,” Dorothée Gizenga said. “It needs and deserves diamond industry support.”

About DDI: The Diamond Development Initiative is registered as a non-profit charitable organization in both Canada and the United States. Our charitable registration number in Canada is 84188 3606 RR0001. Our US 501(c)(3) Tax ID EIN number is 51-0616171. DDI’s executive office is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

4th Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair January 27-29, 2013 In less than two months from now, the Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair will be held for the fourth time. From January 27 to 29, the fair will feature not only the highest number of exhibitors ever - 80 - but will become a truly global event, with buyers’ delegations attending from North America, greater China, the Russian Federation, the Middle East and, of course, Europe.

The fair is a small, private and exclusive “boutique” show for diamonds only.

Most exhibitors have their offices in the same buildings as the fair is held, and therefore the availability of goods is unlimited.

When in February 2010 the Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair (ADTF) opened for its first edition, anticipation was high: it was the first time in more than four hundred years of Antwerp’s rich diamond history that the Scheldt City’s diamantaires threw the doors of their bourses’ trading halls wide open for jewelers to come in and get a taste of what usually had remained hidden:

the widest possible selection of polished diamonds in the world.

The organizers of the fair reported that they have been receiving increasing numbers of requests from jewellery manufacturers and retail jewellers worldwide who wish to be included the final list of invited companies to this by-invitation-only trade fair.

Visitors to the Antwerp Trade fair will have the opportunity to visit the HRD Antwerp’s diamond grading lab. They will enjoy detailed explanations of the lab’s operation, and be able to follow a diamond’s route throughout the grading process.

The ADTF is an initiative by the Diamond Bourse and the Diamond Club of Antwerp. The Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair is sponsored and held under the auspices of the AWDC. www.antwerpdiamondfair.com

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IDMA/WFDB Congress, Mumbai Het tweejaarlijkse wereldcongres van IDMA (International Diamond Manufacturers Association-16 verenigingen) en WFDB (World Federation of Diamond Bourses - 28 beurzen) vond dit jaar voor de eerste keer plaats in Mumbai, van 14 oktober tot 17 oktober.

Gastheren waren de Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) en de Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB).

Dit internationaal congres is de ontmoetingsplaats en platform voor de wereldspelers aan de top van de diamantsector teneinde een sectorale strategie uit te stippelen om de diamantindustrie te versterken. Belangrijke actuele diamanttopics komen hier aan de orde; en dit jaar waren dit de problematiek van de ruwbevoorrading, de dreigende opkomst van de synthetische diamant, het verbeteren van de transparantie en de nood aan generieke promotie.

Tussendoor werden interessante mini-conferenties georganiseerd over cruciale punten: Russell Mehta over de uitdagingen in de diamantindustrie.; consultant Peter Leach over familiebedrijven; Vijay Ramachadran over diamant marketing en analist Charles Wyndham over de prijzen van geslepen diamant.

Opening 35th World Diamond Congress The 35th World Diamond Congress kicked off, with an Inaugural Ceremony that included a traditional lamp lighting ceremony. The ceremony was attended by the chief guest of honor, Shri Prithvirat Chavan, Chief Minister of the state of Maharashtra.

Minister Chavan referred to the employment opportunities created in India by the diamond industry and the important part it played in the local and export sector. India, with the world’s second largest population, creates great opportunities to grow the local diamond and jewellery consumer sales. The local GDP has been growing at 8-9% annually while the current year was expected to grow by 11%. Besides the market opportunities the country offers, it is also actively involved in training people in the diamond and jewellery sector and as such provides the world with skilled and well-trained potential workers in the sector. Chavan emphasised the importance of developing the full supply chain from manufacturing through to design. In closing he congratulated all on the success of the Kimberley Process and wished the delegates a good Congress.

The Inaugural Ceremony was followed by the first joint session of the International Diamond Manufacturers Association and the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, addressed by a number of key industry figures.

Vipul Shah officially declared the Congress open as his first task as the newly elected chairman of the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). Shah highlighted in his opening address the fact that India is responsible for 85% of the world’s caratage and 90% of the volume in diamond manufacturing and as such is a vital player on the diamond stage. He called on all to help assist in developing generic marketing for diamonds in order to assist with the growth of retail markets.

Avi Paz, outgoing president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, took to the podium and stressed that now is a critical time for the diamond industry. The US market remains a difficult trading area and the instability of the global market

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Traditional lamp lighting ceremony on occasion of the Inaugural Ceremony of the 35th World Diamond Congress in Mumbai, India October 15, 2012. Moti Ganz is seen lighting the lamp, flanked by (from left) Vasant Mehta, VP IDMA; Vipul Shah, chairman Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council; Shri Prithvirat Chavan, chief minister of Maharashtra; and Avi Paz,. remains a concern. He continued by describing the diamond industry as very resilient and adaptable to changing conditions.

He hopes that the Congress in India will create a platform to discuss issues that will affect the future of all people involved in the industry. Paz called on delegates to unite as an industry as all share a common goal and encouraged players to stand together to help build an industry they would like to be a part of in the future.

In his address to the first joint session of the congress, outgoing IDMA President Moti Ganz called on the industry to unite and fight towards a common goal and emphasised the retention of margins in the diamond trade as these are vital in ensuring that the trade remains a profitable one and has the ability to expand in the future. He urged the diamond producers “to give manufacturers stronger backing by vouching for rough supplies that will in turn enable the manufacturers to commit to their clients with consistent and continuous supplies of polished.”

He warned that if retail jewelers cannot be guaranteed a continuous and consistent supply of polished diamonds, offered at competitive prices, they may look at alternative gemstones - including synthetic diamonds - that promise better profit margins. Ganz noted that a lack of sustainable supplies of rough may also push diamond cutters toward the production of synthetic diamonds.

Eli Izhakoff drew attention to the fact that India is currently producing nine out of every 10 diamonds in the world and as a consumer market they are the second largest. He called on the entire industry to endorse change for positive results for the KP.

US Ambassador Gillian Milovanovic, Chair of the Kimberley Process, noted in her address that the KP needs to discuss and eventually adopt a new definition of the term “conflict diamond,” one that will encompass agreed situations of conflict in which diamonds are directly involved. “There should be a definition that applies clearly and predictably to every participant, and one that ensures that KP Certification Scheme assurances correspond to the evolving expectations of consumers”, she stated. She called for positive ideas and advice from Congress delegates in order to develop the way forward. She also noted the importance of the KP website which remains an active tool in assisting with the management of the Process and its communications. This site is used to upload any cases involving false certificates to assist officials around the world in managing the Process and to take action against offenders. She concluded by reiterating the importance of consumer confidence.

Varda Shine, CEO of the De Beers’ Diamond Trading Company, addressed the delegates and stated that to date it is estimated that five billion carats of diamonds have been introduced to the market and reminded attendees that the market must be consumer driven and based on consumer demands. She continued by stressing the three points which are critical in order to grow the market: securing supply, maintaining consumer confidence and stimulating consumer demand.

She noted that with the new markets in China and India,

the DTC and other diamond suppliers needed to adapt their production outlook and to look carefully at the needs of the new markets. Although the Chinese market is slowing down, growth of double-digit figures are still expected from this market in the current year.

Shine also noted that with Botswana becoming the DTC’s global rough sorting and selling centre, Southern Africa would become the leading region for rough supplies to the global diamond industry. Botswana secures a supply chain for 10 years.

Shine also noted that the DTC did not view gem-quality synthetic diamonds as a threat to natural diamonds, but emphasized that the detection and proper disclosure of synthetic diamonds were essential for these products to become accepted among the gemstones that are for sale in the market.

The Forevermark will also be introducing a new range called HALO jewellery, consisting of a large centre stone with smaller stones surrounding it. It is believed that the marketing of this new range will stimulate further diamond jewellery sales across the board.

Linda Vancauwenberghe (Manager SBD) and Varda Shine (CEO DTC) The South African Minister of Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu, a keynote speaker at the Congress noted that on the 10th anniversary of the Kimberley Process (KP) it was fitting that South Africa took over the chair of this organisation founded in Kimberley, South Africa in 2003. Shabangu expressed how African countries benefited from the KP as this allowed them to trade in diamonds to an international market while complying with all legislation. The review of the KP process raised in Italy earlier this year was welcomed by the Minister and she confirmed that she was in favour of any review as long as it did not move away from the original concept of the Process. Shabangu once

The delegation of The Netherlands: Edward Asscher, Fred Blog and Ed Blik

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more committed herself and the South African government to the KP and what it sets out to achieve. She further voiced her conviction that producing countries must share in wealth creation and encouraged African countries to take ownership of the KP process and become part of it in order to extract maximum benefit from it. Shabangu stressed the importance of beneficiation and her wish for this to be implemented in more producing countries in order to create employment and skills development. The Minister explained that the South African government had created the State Diamond Trader in the country in order to ensure the supply of rough diamonds to small industry players and in so doing ensuring development and the survival of small entities. She praised India for its well-developed infrastructure and the example it is setting for countries such as South Africa. “India and South Africa have shared a long history going back over many years and this relationship must be nurtured for future development.”

In closing, Shabangu called for the implementation of the KP process to be made even stronger as every sector of the industry benefits by it.

Pol Van der Steen and Edward Denckens from SBD, Belgium.

Donna Baker from the GIA, who was the final speaker to address the Session, assured the industry of the company’s commitment to investing in people, research and education.

She confirmed that synthetic stones must be declared and that the GIA labs will continue working towards exposure of treated diamonds as and when they see them in GIA labs.

IDMA warns future of diamond manufacturing is at stake In a speech presented at the opening session of the 35th World Diamond Congress, Moti Ganz warned the downstream market - retailers - may loose interest in natural polished diamonds if consistent and continuous supplies of polished goods cannot be guaranteed to the downstream market by the manufacturers, and by extensions, by the producers.

Dignitaries, colleagues, friends, During the past four years, I have spoken time and again about the damage the tenders are causing, but without tangible results., because everybody preferred to keep their eye on the profit margins.

I have also spoken continuously about the need for generic advertising, and while everybody professed their support, nothing was done.

Therefore, I really want to say to you again what I have said in the past: The rough producers’ profit margins of today, are the producers’ losses of tomorrow.

How did we end up in this dire situation?

First, we wanted to become more effective by streamlining the supply pipeline. We argued that by doing to, we would be preserving our profitability.

Twenty years ago there were about seven stations diamonds - rough and polished - passed through between the rough producers and the retailers. Yet since then, every few years, we have taken more control of the supply pipeline by eliminating each time - another middleman.

Then, we conquered the secondary rough trading market, as well as the wholesale polished diamond market, the trade in the regional polished markets, and ultimately also in the major consumer markets!

We consequently have become jewelers, and now find ourselves financing the diamond supply pipeline from both ends - both on the rough diamond end, as well as on the retailers’ end!

However, this streamlining has in no way improved our

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profitability! On the contrary, our profitability has been reduced to a point that is close to zero, while at the same time the profit margins of both the rough producers and the retailers have continuously increased.

Also, for the sake of profitability, we have cut out so many of the pipeline’s - former - participants, that if we do not take action right here and now, we will be cutting ourselves out of the supply line as well!

So, up to now, we have been conducting a fight among ourselves. Each diamond manufacturer has been trying to conquer more territory, with the purpose to do better and to improve his bottom line. He tried to become more effective, to streamline his own operations, just to sell better and improve his business’ chances of survival.

But now, it is obvious that the struggle we have been part of is no longer one between one diamantaire and another, but between the diamantaire, the colored gemstone dealer, the pearl trader, and even the synthetic diamond trader. Our struggle is now how much space we get in the jewelry retail display cases and on the retailers’ shelves.

Colored gemstone dealers and sellers of synthetic diamonds can offer their merchandise to retailers at better prices and at better terms. During the past three years, these other gemstone categories have taken away yet another half percent from our market share, of our display space, of our sales in the jewelry retail shops. So even if this keeps going at the same pace, we’ll lose, within the next two decades, more than twenty percent of our market share among consumers. And it is crystal clear that the pace will not be static, but dynamic. The more alternatives that are offered to the consumers, the higher the pace of market

share loss of diamond jewelry will be! And let’s face the reality; the retailers have good reasons to want and prefer these other gemstone categories, because they are guaranteed to make a profit with these goods.

The retailers are also fed up with us constantly complaining and whining that we need to increase our prices while synthetic diamond dealers gladly will give them goods on memo and can also promise them significantly larger profit margins.

While at the outstart, they’ll have the synthetic diamonds displayed in a discreet corner of their shops, but very quickly, these stones will be moved to center stage, as they will be proving to be very good for the retailers’ bottom line. Look how well cultured pearls are doing.

A rough diamond has no value by itself. The producer has no use for it. A diamond becomes only valuable - and tradable when it is polished. The rough is only perceived as valuable by - indeed - the manufacturer. Only I, the manufacturer, only I know what it is that I hold in my hand and what I can achieve with this piece of rough.

If I, the manufacturer, am to want to buy the rough diamonds that you, the producers want to sell, I have to get them on a regular basis, in continuous and consistent assortments. Only then, I’ll be able to commit myself to the chains and stores I work with! Only then, I can commit myself to what they call their ‘programs.’ Only then, I can promise to you, the producers, that the rough that you produce is worth something in the eyes of those who buy the polished - in the downstream pipeline, down to the end-consumer.

We cannot continue to buy rough at a loss.

The rough producers and the manufacturers are all in the same boat. We all want to run a stable, regular business. The producers want to have assurance that someone is going to buy the rough diamonds they extract from the earth.

The producers are also committed to the governments and the people of the countries where they operate their mines in. The producers also have targets to meet because if they do not met their sales targets, they’ll have no reason to stay in the diamond

mining business.

Therefore, the producers will need to find ways to encourage and support the diamond manufacturers. They need to give the manufacturers stronger backing, by vouching for rough supplies that will in turn enable the manufacturers to commit to their clients with consistent and continuous supplies of polished.

This is my message to you, as I am about to conclude my term and service as IDMA president.

On this occasion, I’d like to thank my colleagues at IDMA, the IDMA board and in particular my colleagues and friends Stephane Fischler and Ronnie vanderLinden.

And let me close my address by thanking - once again - Anoop Mehta and Vasant Mehta and all our Indian friends for their hospitality.

I hope and wish that the status of the diamond manufacturer will be restored that stability and prosperity will return, and that we will all enjoy the fruits of our labor and success.

Ronnie VanderLinden, Secretary-General IDMA and President IDMA Maxim Shkadov giving a present to outgoing president Moti Ganz: “In greatfull appreciation for your years of dedication as president.”

Conclusions : IDMA membership elects new president and vice presidents, heaps praise on Indian hosts for organizing a successful, meaningful event The 35th World Diamond Congress concluded in Mumbai with the IDMA electing a new board for the upcoming two years. The IDMA members resolved to support the KP’s efforts to arrive at a new definition for conflict diamonds. Following the announcement of the Diamond Source Warranty Protocol, the IDMA members voiced their grave concerns as to its effect on the flow of goods throughout the legitimate diamond supply pipeline.

At its concluding meeting, the IDMA members elected Maxim Shkadov of Russia as its new president. Incumbent Secretary General Ronnie VanderLinden and incumbent Treasurer Stephane Fischler were both re-elected for another term in office. Three incumbent Vice Presidents, Vasant Mehta of India; Ronny Friedman,

Maxim Shkadov, the newly elected president of the International Diamond Manufacturers Association.

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USA; and Eduard Denckens of Belgium were also re-elected. In addition, David de Toledo of Israel and Edward Asscher of the Netherlands were elected to serve as Vice Presidents.

Secretary-General VanderLinden said the outcome of the elections demonstrated the need for greater and wider involvement of IDMA members in leading the diamond manufacturing industry through an ever more complex maze of challenges it is engaging. “I look forward to working closely with Maxim and the vice presidents in the coming two years. We all will be working hard to assure the global diamond industry’s interests will best served,” he stated.

The IDMA board expressed its appreciation to the KP Chair, US Ambassador Milovanovic, for recognizing and emphasizing that the discussions and ensuing agreement on a new definition for conflict diamonds can only be reached through all-industry inclusive dialogue. The board said it looked forward to take part in the upcoming discussions.

Following the announcement of the Diamond Source Warranty Protocol, by Jewelers of America (JA), the Jewelers Vigilance Council (JVC) and the Diamond Manufacturers & Importers Association of America (DMIA), the IDMA members voiced their grave concerns as to its effect on the flow of goods throughout the legitimate diamond supply pipeline.

(Diamond Source Warranty Protocol: http://www.jewelers.org/ files/diamond-source-warranty-protocol.pdf)

Avi Paz (right) receiving his Honorary Life President award from Ernie Blom (left), the newly elected WFDB president year term.

Blom in his acceptance speech thanked the WFDB for its support: “I am very honoured and humbled that you, the members of the WFDB, have elected me to lead this organisation for the next term of office. I am committed to take on this task and can assure you that I will give nothing but my best to make it a success. A goal of mine is to ensure that we, as an organisation, add value to all our members. We need to take a step forward ensuring that we move from ‘talk to action’ and bring our organisation to the forefront of the diamond industry.”

New IDMA President Maxim Shkadov and outgoing President Moti Ganz expressed their profound gratitude to the two organizations that hosted the congress, thanking Vasant Mehta, IDMA vice president and former chairman of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and Anoop Mehta, WFDB Executive Committee member and president of the Bharat Diamond Bourse, as well as their teams for their efforts. “The congress was organized flawlessly and its unique format, through the integration of a highly informative and value-adding mini conference, proved to be an absolute winner,” Shkadov said. “We have heard nothing but expressions of satisfaction and praise from the congress’ delegates for the time have they have spent here, at the congress in Mumbai.”

Honorary Awards at the World Federation of Diamond Bourses

Maxim Shkadov also thanked outgoing President Moti Ganz for his two terms in office. “Your passion and penchant to speak your mind have been instrumental in defending the joint interests of our members and in getting IDMA’s points of views across to its various discussion partners,” Shkadov said. “While you are stepping down as IDMA president, we know you will continue to step up to the plate to serve the industry, both in your own country as well as in the international realm,” he added.

Dieter Hahn, current treasurer-general for the WFDB (since 13 years), received an Honorary Life Treasurer-General award from the WFDB. D. Hahn is a founding member of the International Diamond Council (1975).

Ernie Blom appointed new president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses

Eli Izhakoff, honorary lifetime president of WFDB and president of the World Diamond Council (WDC), was presented with the Diamantaire of the Year award at a gala dinner held last evening at the 35th World Diamond Congress in Mumbai.

Avi Paz, congratulated Izhakoff on his award and said: “Izhakoff has dedicated his life to the diamond industry and is devoted to

Ernie Blom was elected unopposed at the 35th World Diamond Congress as the new president of the (WFDB) for the next two-

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Three Honorary Life awards were presented to current and past key members of the WFDB. The WFDB made these awards in recognition and gratitude for their long, loyal and faithful service to the WFDB. Avi Paz, was made Honorary Life President.

As WFDB president (2008-2012) Paz’s responsibilities included leading the global organisation and determining its priorities, activities, direction and goals up to the 35th World Diamond Congress in Mumbai.

Michael H Vaughan, past secretary-general of the WFDB, received an Honorary Life Secretary-General award from the WFDB.

serving our interests at the Kimberley Process. I can’t think of a more deserving recipient of this award” Ernest Blom, concurred: “This award, given only every four years, is not bestowed lightly and my friend is a most deserving recipient for all he has done and continues to do for the diamond industry.”

Contact: Yaakov@yaakovalmor.com - Andrewm@isikhova.co.za www.idma.co www.wfdb.com Dieter Hahn (right) receiving his Honorary Life Treasurer-General award from Willy Rotti (left).

New Executive Committee of the WFDB

New Executive Committee of IDMA

President: Ernie Blom Vice-President: Julien Drybooms Secretary-General: Rony Unterman Treasurer-General: Dieter Hahn Members: Rami Baron Nikhil Jhaveri

Reuven Kaufman

Anoop Mehta

Sergei Oulin

Alex Popov

Lin Qiang

Yair Sahar

Honorary President: Jeffrey Fischer President: Maxim Shkadov Secretary-General: Ronnie VanderLinden Treasurer: Stephane Fischler Vice-Presidents: Edward Asscher Edward Denckens David De Toledo Ronny Friedman Vasant Mehta

A special visit to SURAT was planned after the Congress concludes. Delegates got an opportunity to see the massive modern diamond cutting and polishing factories in Surat.

At the galadiner Edward Denckens (Vice president IDMA), Devika Gidwani (Manager HRD Mumbai), Mukesh Shah (Director Diamantclub of Antwerp), Linda Vancauwenberghe (Manager SBD), Georges Brys (General Manager HRD Antwerp), Pol Van der Steen (Treasurer SBD), Rony Unterman (Secretary General WFDB)

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A visit to Star Rays Thanks to the intermediation of Mr. Mukesh Shah, director of the Diamantclub of Antwerp, a delegation of HRD, Diamantclub of Antwerp and SBD could visit the firm Star Rays in Mumbai during the World Diamond Congress. Mr. Jitesh Shah showed their offices in the Bharat Diamond Bourse.

The Bharat Diamond Bourse, opened in November 2010, is today one of the main platforms of the diamond industry in India. Towards fulfilling its objective to develop and establish India as a modern and sophisticated diamond market in the world by establishing and maintaining an international trading centre in India for all those engaged as manufacturers, brokers and commission agents of diamonds, the BDB is offering an integrated trading/business centre for the diamond industry with over 2 million sq ft of built up area, about 2400 offices and all other modern infrastructure required to carry on day to day business at the Mumbai’s newest business hub, Bandra Kurla Complex.

The offices of Star Rays in Bharat Bourse have mainly sales functions as production and grading remains in Surat.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Jitesh Shah, partner, who explained the policy of Star Rays.

Although Star Rays started over 30 years ago, the company has integrated over the years all new technologies in manufacturing, grading, stock inventory and sales so that their whole

process from A to Z is now electronically managed to highly sophisticated, using a.o. all possibilities of internet.

Star Rays only trades with diamond professionals.

However, despite all these new techniques, it is crucial that both buyer and seller get to know each other, in order to establish the necessary mutual trust, and understanding the way of doing business in all transparency. Everything is set up to make the whole buying process more efficient, more transparant and quicker than the traditionnal way. E.g. Star Rays developed a much more detailed grading system and a search function on their available sales stock. Combined with a chrystal clear view over internet of the stones, a link to the certificate (up to 90% is already certified) for that stone this full electronical process allows any accepted buyer to have an exact idea of the stones he is buying. Up to 70% of their sales are done electronically.

Especially buyers from China and Singapore are really found of this quick and efficient process.

To make life of the buyer even more easy, Star Rays developed recently an own app (for blackberry or I-phone and I-pad) where buyers can immediately make their choice and buy at any time from every place, without even an PC. This app is only available for selected buyers. This firm is an illustration of the rapid and drastic changes in the diamond trade Star Rays uses mostly certificates from GIA but they know HRD Mumbai; both Mr. Georges Brys (HRD Antwerp) as Mrs. Devika Gidwani (HRD Mumbai) discussed the speed and quality of their services.

Bezoek aan het HRD labo in Mumbai HRD Antwerp, de commerciële dochteronderneming van het Antwerp World Diamond Centre richtte in juni laatstleden een diamantlab op in Mumbai.

Adres: 506 5F Trade Centre | Bandra Kurla Complex | Babdra East | Mumbai 400051 | India. T. + 91 22 42 56 8000 mumbai@hrdantwerp.be

HRD Antwerp diamant certificaten hebben een uitstekende reputatie op de Indiase markt. Vandaar de beslissing van HRD Antwerp om diensten op maat aan te beiden op één van de snelst groeiende consumentenmarkten.

Aan het hoofd van de vestiging in Mumbai staat Devika Gidwani.

Zij is verantwoordelijk voor de verdere uitbreiding van het HRD Antwerp-merk. Gidwani heeft 25 jaar ervaring in de diamantsector.

Het nieuwe HRD Antwerp lab is gevestigd in het hart van het nieuwe diamantdistrict in Mumbai.

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Visitors and staff of the HRD Lab Mumbai

Dag van de Wetenschap.

Een innovatieve kijk op de toekomst van diamant.

WTOCD, Diamantmuseum Provincie Antwerpen, AWDC en HRD Antwerp namen op 25 november deel aan de Dag van de Wetenschap.

Op 40 jaar tijd is de diamantbewerking geëvolueerd van een ambacht naar een sector die niet meer zonder spitstechnologie kan. Van het in kaart brengen van een ruwe diamant tot het opvolgen van de kwaliteit van een geslepen diamant, wordt Belgische diamanttechnologie gebruikt.

Aan de hand van rondleidingen, demonstraties, een spannend ontdekkingsparcours op kindermaat en workshops ‘glas etsen’ – i.s.m. de VZW Natuur en Wetenschap – kon tijdens de Dag van de Wetenschap kennis gemaakt worden met de technologie van het WTOCD, die i.s.m. HRD Antwerp, de diamantsector wereldwijd dag in dag uit in staat stelt diamant te laten schitteren.

400 bezoekers, van binnen en buiten de sector, kregen een blik achter de schermen van het diamantonderzoek.

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Research EOSFancy: Automatisch snijden van fantasievormen Tim Gevers, Jeroen Vandeloo - WTOCD Meer dan acht jaar geleden ontwikkelde WTOCD een automatische snijmachine voor ronde diamanten gebaseerd op een destijds nieuw principe: de snijbewerking werd gerealiseerd door een slijpsteen, roterend in een koelvloeistof, tegen de ingeklemde roterende diamant aan te drukken. De optimale samenstelling en combinatie van de slijpsteen en de koelvloeistof waren het resultaat van een jarenlang onderzoek waarbij de invloed van alle parameters op het snijproces in kaart werd gebracht en vervolgens geoptimaliseerd. Hiermee werd de basis gelegd voor de ontwikkeling van de EOS snijmachine voor ronde diamanten.

Nog steeds staat de EOS snijmachine ontwikkeld door WTOCD, wereldwijd bekend om haar hoge kwaliteit, zowel van de machine als van de gesneden rondisten, die een satijnen glans vertonen.

Het optreden van baard behoorde vanaf dan definitief tot het verleden en de risico’s op beschadigingen ten gevolge van het snijden werden enorm verkleind.

Nu, acht jaar later heeft WTOCD, mede op vraag van de Antwerpse diamantsector, de EOS snijmachine uitgebreid naar fantasievormen.

Figuur 1: Bovenaan, De EOS snijmachine, onderaan, de satijnen rondistband

Om de ronde vorm van een briljant te snijden is er enkel een aanzetbeweging nodig, dwars op de pendelbeweging van de schijf en onafhankelijk van de rotatiestand van de diamant. Door een koppeling te maken tussen de rotatiehoek van de diamant en de aanzetbeweging van de schijf kunnen we andere figuren beschrijven dan cirkels. Deze toevoeging maakt het mogelijk om automatisch en zonder mechanisch centreren fantasievormen te snijden.

Figuur 2 illustreert de beweging van de schijf tijdens het beschrijven van de contour van een peer.

Bij de oorspronkelijke ontwikkeling van de EOS snijmachine werd er rekening gehouden met de uitbreiding naar fantasievormen: de gestuurde beweging van de schijf werd reeds voorzien door de

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Figuur 2: De gekoppelde schijfbeweging “D” nodig voor het beschrijven van de contour van een peer.

niet alle modellen kunnen zo gesneden worden.

Met EOSFancy kan men in één stap alle convexe modellen snijden met een hoge nauwkeurigheid en een hoge graad van symmetrie. De maximale symmetrieafwijking beperkt zich tot enkele honderdsten van een millimeter.

Figuur 3: Voorbeelden van fantasievormen gesneden met EOSFancy.

ingenieurs van WTOCD. De nieuw ontwikkelde software maakt hiervan gebruik en berekent voor elke te snijden vorm de bewegingen van de schijf en stuurt deze door naar de machine die ze vervolgens uitvoert. Zodoende kunnen alle convexe vormen bestaande uit bogen en lijnen gesneden worden.

Dit wil zeggen dat niet alleen gebogen modellen (peer, markies, ovaal, cushion,…) maar ook rechte modellen (emerald, princess,…) met EOSFancy gesneden kunnen worden.

De EOSFancy uitbreiding maakt van EOS de eerste automatische snijmachine voor fantasievormen.

Enkele producenten van kopieën van EOS, bieden al wel de mogelijkheid aan om fantasievormen te snijden door de diamant uit de center te plaatsen en zo in verschillende stappen de bogen van een fantasievorm te snijden. Deze werkwijze is echter omslachtig, heeft een beperkte nauwkeurigheid en

Figuur 4: Screendump van de EOSFancy Software tijdens het snijden van een markies.

De nieuwe software vereist een recente PC met een aangepaste grafische kaart. Voor het snijden van fantasievormen gebeurt het centreren van de diamant volledig softwarematig en wordt er dus geen gebruik gemaakt van de centreerhamer zoals bij het snijden van ronde diamanten.

In EOSFancy heeft men de keuze tussen een manuele werkwijze en een werkwijze met transfer vanuit een ruwscanner. Bij de manuele werkwijze gebeurt het instellen en positioneren van het te snijden model in de EOSFancy software met de diamant ingespannen in de machine. Bij de werkwijze met transfer vanuit een ruwscanner wordt het 3d-model van het ruw en de te snijden vorm geëxporteerd vanuit de planningssoftware. Het geëxporteerde bestand wordt dan ingelezen in EOSFancy en het model van het ruw wordt door de operator gelijk gelegd met het ruw in de machine. Het te snijden model dat gekoppeld is aan de 3D-voorstelling van het ruw zal dan per definitie gecentreerd liggen en kan na het doorlopen van een simulatie gesneden worden.

Tijdens deze simulatiestap kan de operator controleren of er zich geen onregelmatigheden

Figuur 5: Voorbeeld van een export van een 3D-model van het ruw en een te snijden vorm

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zullen voordoen tijdens het snijden. Momenteel wordt een transfer vanuit de Helium Rough Scanner (Octonus/Lexus) ondersteund. Voor ruwscanners van andere producenten, zoals Sarin of Ogi wordt de mogelijkheid van een tansferfunctie nog verder onderzocht.

EOSFancy kan zowel voor het voorsnijden als voor het afwerken gebruikt worden. Het snijden van fantasievormen begint net zoals bij rond met het inklemmen van de diamant. Dit vereist de aanwezigheid van een tafelfacet en een puntvormige onderzijde. Voor het inspannen van sommige fantasievormen zijn potjes met groeven of een aangepaste vorm nodig. Om de bewerkingstijd en het schijfverbruik te beperken is het interessant de dikte van de te snijden rondistband te beperken door aan de kroonzijde enkele facetten te slijpen.

ZEKER VERZEKERD

EOSFancy is eveneens de ideale aanvulling op het voorsnijden met een bewerkingslaser. De door een laserbewerking gevormde rondistband ligt altijd conisch ten opzichte van de tafel. Dit maakt het voor de rondistslijper moeilijk om de rondistvorm perfect symmetrisch af te werken. Met behulp van EOSFancy kan de gelaserde rondistband haaks afgewerkt worden en dichter naar de eindafmetingen gebracht worden in een relatief korte bewerkingstijd.

De door EOSFancy gesneden rondisten zijn quasi perfect symmetrisch waardoor het werk van de rondistslijper eenvoudiger wordt en uiteindelijk resulteert in een betere symmetrie.

De ontwikkeling van EOSFancy zit momenteel in de testfase. De nieuwe software wordt bij enkele Antwerpse diamantbedrijven getest binnen hun productie. Dit levert WTOCD snel de nodige feedback om de verdere ontwikkeling bij te sturen en rijp te maken voor commercialisatie. Deze manier van werken werd reeds voor andere projecten toegepast en wordt zowel door WTOCD als door de bedrijven als positief ervaren. De industrietestfase loopt nu naar haar einde en op basis van de feedback en testresultaten zal EOSFancy afgewerkt worden tot een commercieel product. Verwacht wordt dat een eerste commerciĂŤle versie van EOSFancy bij HRD Equipment beschikbaar zal zijn in de loop van 2013.

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GROEPS- & BEDRIJFSVERZEKERINGEN CONTACT:

ann.theunis @ finserve.be

AWDC & Antwerpsche Diamantkring open Antwerp Diamond Tender Facility On October 17, the Antwerpsche Diamantkring and AWDC officially inaugurated the Antwerp Diamond Tender Facility (ATF) on the first floor of the AWDC building. The new service was officially opened by Antwerp’s diamond sector Alderman Ludo Van Campenhout.

The Antwerp Diamond Tender Facility is a fully-fledged, ‘triple A’ facility that enables companies to tender their goods right in the heart of the industry, the Antwerp diamond district.

The tender floor includes seven viewing rooms, access and video control and is now open for rent.

Freddy Inzlicht, President of the Antwerpsche diamantkring said; “As the world’s leading rough diamond bourse, we are committed to continue Antwerp’s legacy as the epicenter of the trade in rough. After the launch of the Antwerp Diamond Masterplan and the fusion of the four bourses, joining forces with AWDC to set up this new service was a logical step.”

Ari Epstein, CEO of the AWDC: “Thanks to the combined efforts of both De Antwerpsche Diamantkring and the AWDC, the Antwerp Diamond Tender Facility is yet another tangible project that stems directly from the vision of our Antwerp Diamond Masterplan; to be and to remain the number one diamond trade hub in the world.”

Tim Wilkes, Chief Executive of Firestone Diamonds said: “The opening of the new tender facility at the AWDC is very exciting and will provide mining companies with a world class independent facility to sell its diamonds from, in one of the premier diamond buying centres of the industry. Firestone Diamonds and First Element have worked very hard with the ADWC and Kring to develop this facility and look forward to developing the relationship” Johan Erikson the CEO of First Element said: “We are very excited and pleased with the new Tender Facility at the AWDC, we believe that it is a very important milestone for the World Diamond market. The fact that companies will now be able to sell their diamonds in Antwerp, in a totally independent state of the art tender facility, will not only make more diamonds available to the industry but will also offer a platform to increase trading in Antwerp. We look forward to long and mutually beneficial relationships with the AWDC and the Kring.”

Freddy Inzlicht; Johan Erikson; Ludo Van Campenhout; Lucio Genovese; Ramesh Patel; Samir Mehta, Ari Epstein; David Wahl

First Element (Pty) Ltd organized the first tender at the end of November.

Johan Erikson: “We had 82 viewings which is a success. The facility, by being totally independent, adds tremendous value and credibility to the diamonds being offered for sale. We are looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

The next tender will be held in February 2013.

Antwerp welcomes Lesotho’s Minister of Mines On December 4th an official delegation led by H.E. Tlali Khasu, Minister of Mines of the Kingdom of Lesotho was welcomed

by AWDC’s President Stephane Fischler and CEO Ari Epstein.

The visit of the high level delegation to Antwerp’s diamond district marks the excellent relationships Lesotho and Antwerp have enjoyed as preferred partners in the rough diamond trade.

Ari Epstein: “We are honored to have the Minister as our guest today, it underscores the strong ties between Lesotho and Antwerp. Today the majority of Lesotho’s diamonds are already traded in Antwerp. We look forward to continue and further develop this mutual beneficial partnership in the future.”

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Zimbabwe Diamond Conference Zimbabwe Diamond Conference 2012, November 12-13, in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe Diamond Conference ends on high positive note, declared fully compliant with KP requirements The Zimbabwe Diamond Conference 2012, which is organized by the Zimbabwe ministry of Mines and Mining Development ,concluded successfully after two days of talks, presentations and discussions in the presence of His Excellency President Robert Mugabe, former president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, ministers of mining from other African diamond producing countries and many international diamond industry leaders and diamond company captains.

Mbeki’s and Mugabe’s participation in the conference emphasizes the importance the African continent attributes to the potential of Zimbabwe’s diamond mining industry.

The conference focused on resolving the outstanding obstacles that currently continue to restrict the free flow of rough diamonds from Zimbabwe into the downstream markets.

In his closing statement, Honourable Minister of Mines and Mine Development, Obert Moses Mpofu said that he is delighted with the unequivocal reaffirmation issued by the Kimberley Process Certification System Chair that Zimbabwe is fully KP compliant.

Minister Mpofu reported that the conference had attracted more than 480 participants, deeming it one of the best attended diamond conferences in recent times. He recognized, lauded and thanked the many governmental dignitaries and captains of industry for making their way to Victoria Falls and for their valuable contributions to the conference’s programme,

presentations and discussions.

“It was our great pleasure and honour to host you here and we hope this visit will serve as standing invitation for you all to come back soon,” he said.

Noting that Zimbabwe may well hold in excess of 25 percent of the world’s diamond deposits, and adding that wide prospective areas are still to be explored, he elaborated: “At this conference, it has become very clear how important and pivotal our country’s diamond mining sector is, not only for the economy of Zimbabwe at large but also for the social and economic development of local communities,” he said.

“Therefore, to assure that Zimbabwe will continue toward positive economic development, it is pertinent that we can successfully trade rough diamonds and that there is a free flow of funds between - legitimate - diamond trading companies,” Minister Mpofu added.

At the concluding session, on the conference’s second day, Eli Izhakoff, president of the World Diamond Council, announced that, pending WDC board approval, he will engage the United States Treasury and the European Community to lift sanctions on diamonds from Zimbabwe, to preserve the integrity of the KP system.

Thanking the WDC president for his initiative, minister Mpofu said that he consequently intends to call upon the NGO’s to desist their campaigning against Zimbabwe in the various downstream markets.

Contact: Ya’akov Almor yaakov@yaakovalmor.com

Speech AWDC President Stephane Fischler at the 2012 Zimbabwe Diamond Conference Honorable Ministers, Esteemed Guests, Dear Colleagues, Henry Kissinger, the former US Secretary of State, who was, the ultimate “realist” when it came to international relations once famously said, and I quote: “diamonds are a chunk of coal made good under pressure”.

I leave you to imagine the exact moment when this was said.

Why on earth one may ask, is the chairman of the largest and leading diamond- trading center in the world saying this here in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. A land of plenty and multiple resources.

My aim is simply to focus all of you present to a century old wisdom.

Start believing and it is real. Stop and it is gone.

I am here as the only representative of the European diamond industry, Chairman of the Antwerp World Diamond Center well known to you all.

Although we in Europe have, as we speak, restrictive measures in place against certain entities and persons in Zimbabwe, we also believe and will continue to believe and favor constructive engagement.

We are keenly aware and respectful of the not so distant past and the courageous struggle for independence on this continent. And I would like to salute all of those who gave up their lives, risk their future, and those of their families in the name of freedom and dignity. And it is because we value that struggle that we would also like to help you make the most

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of the resources of this proud country, for the benefit of the Zimbabwean people.

Antwerp has historically been the cradle of the modern diamond manufacturing and trading industry. Though our manufacturing is not leading in units, it has nevertheless remained the undisputed leader in excellence. Witness the legendary diamonds that have and continue to be polished by our master craftsmen as well as the state of the art technological research facility fully funded by the AWDC. In the world of (rough) diamond trading, the status of Antwerp is unique. First and foremost, Antwerp is a fully comprehensive hub.

The Antwerp diamond sector comprises 1850 registered diamond companies from the most diverse of origins Dedicated sales offices of major diamond producing companies and a significant and growing amount of smaller producers Specialized diamond banks and insurance companies that enable the industry’s financing Four diamond bourses, including the world’s only rough diamond bourse, and a Complete inventory of facilitating services, such as gem labs, brokers, security and transportation providers.

I am proud and privileged that I – as chairman of the AWDC – can represent all these important ”facets” of our diamond industry.

It is not a geographical coincidence that this vital critical mass is concentrated in Antwerp.

At the core of Antwerp’s unique trade infrastructure lays the Diamond Office, the in-house customs office that streamlines the vast flow of diamonds in and out of Antwerp. Through a sophisticated system of procedures and controls, Antwerp succeeds in reaching an internationally recognized high level of compliance and transparency: AML, KP, CSR, sustainability, the continuous striving to finalize and formalize the shift from ‘conflict to development diamonds’.

On top of the procedures that are customary in our business, Antwerp is subject to an additional compliance layer through EU legislation and regulations. And although to some, this might sound as a downside, it is granting our diamond hub the status of excellence in compliance.

I’m sure you are all well aware that in today’s world, in any business, but increasingly so in the case of diamonds, this is not a liability, but a sustainable value.

“Imitation is the highest form of flattery” they say, and we are indeed proud that our Diamond Office model is being copied in diamond hubs throughout the world.

On their own, these elements are just random points. Only by connecting the dots, can the picture truly reveal itself. And the line that shapes the Antwerp blueprint for success is actually quite simple; it is the expertise built up over generations coupled with a passion for a most unique commodity and the ambition to live up to the high standards and expectations that are inseparably associated with it.

Being one of a kind obviously has its advantages; we are the best at what we do.

But let the numbers do the talk.

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When we look at Antwerp’s figures on rough trading, the fact that 8 out 10 of all mined diamonds passing through Antwerp is clearly reflected in the statistics: on a total world production of approximately $14,2 billion, we can see Antwerp imports of rough amount to a total of $11.2 billion. The total amount of all diamonds traded in Antwerp annually equals no less than $ 39,3 billion.

What this says, dear friends, is that Antwerp is and remains the preferred rough trading hub in the industry. The reason is simple; Antwerp has the critical mass necessary to absorb productions without negatively influencing the market.

Through this critical mass - through the presence of more than 1850 local companies, coupled to the ever-growing number of foreign buyers especially from the Far-East -we can guarantee the best market price. We can, indeed, create development - or prosperity diamonds; diamonds contributing to the social and economic well-being of producing nations, especially here in Africa.

We are, in short, the market and partner of choice.

And Antwerp is ready to take it yet another step forward. When we launched the Antwerp Diamond Masterplan earlier this year, one of the key projects defined was to actively increase our reach by exploring new markets, bringing even more rough to Antwerp. Just a few weeks ago, that vision was put into practice through the opening for business of our Antwerp Diamond Tender Facility; an independent, fully-fledged, ‘triple A’ facility that enables companies to tender their goods right in the heart of the largest and leading marketplace.

Where Antwerp is unique as a diamond trading hub and center of excellence, Zimbabwe is undoubtedly in a class of its own as diamond producer. I realize I am preaching to the choir when I say that the enormous potential of Zimbabwe is unique in the recent history of our industry.

So, I’m merely stating the obvious to indicate an equally evident match: Antwerp and Zimbabwe are the perfect complimentary partners.

Zimbabwe is fast developing as a major producer and we believe it is only logical, as many in the past have discovered, to fully engage in a long-term, sustainable and mutually beneficial partnership between Antwerp and Zimbabwe.

The equation is easy: Antwerp can provide a fully comprehensive trade environment and a vast amount of exportable expertise,

knowledge and technology in exchange for new streams of Zimbabwean supply, or as they so eloquently put it here, a piece of that very, very large cake.

We are regarded worldwide as the trading centre that upholds the highest ethical standards with maximum transparency requirements and we have no intention whatsoever of dropping the bar on our standards or compromising that reputation.

Neither should we be naĂŻve nor turn a blind eye towards key issues such as legal, economic and political stability, as well as beneficiation for the government and the people of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

We strongly believe that a durable cooperation between Zimbabwe and Antwerp could be key in building a new chapter in our collective diamond history.

However, today, such a development is obstructed by sanctions.

We are convinced that the resulting de facto exclusion of imports from certain areas negatively affects the on-going social and economic development of Zimbabwe. The EU has been calling on the Government of Zimbabwe to spare no effort to reform, so that the restrictive measures can be lifted.

Having said so, sanctions are not an end in themselves, nor are they intended to last for ever. In the meantime due to little competition, your diamonds are not fully exposed to the international market, and as such failing to guarantee you the best price and optimal return. We believe that, if the goods from Zimbabwe, and more specifically from the Marange area could be traded in Antwerp, fair and optimal market prices would be obtained, increasing the Zimbabwe government revenue and allowing the local communities to reap the full benefits of their country’s resources.

Allowing communities and countries to benefit from their diamond production through a fair, transparent and internationally recognized trading system has been the core goal of the Kimberley Process. In 2000, the global diamond industry was convinced that conflict diamonds should be transformed into development diamonds, as the best agent to prevent future conflicts. Creating economic and social wellbeing, especially in African diamond producing countries.

10 years after that important moment, we have to bear in mind that the KP should be reformed in order to become more efficient, in order to strengthen consumer confidence.

sovereignty, focussing on an equal level playing field, where internal controls are equally implemented and duly controlled.

We do not need ad hoc solutions that would contradict the need for enduring and permanent developments within the KP. This KP reform is not an end game. It is an evolving process based on continuous improvement. The circumstances in which our industry operates today are continuously changing as well. We need a firm base; a solid foundation for the KP to enable us to adapt not only to current conditions but also more importantly, to future challenges.

The World Diamond Council has recently announced its intention to get behind the reform agenda in order to maintain the overall credibility of the KPCS. The AWDC is also fully behind this. I would call on all members of the industry here present to think about how we can play our part in strengthening the KPCS, as we remain a critical element of this tri-partite process. In particular, I encourage us all to engage constructively in the dialogue on reform.

Antwerp has a long track record when it comes to sharing its knowledge and assisting other diamond hubs on various aspects of our business. The same way that most, if not all, the current manufacturing centres in the world have been established thanks to Belgian expertise.

Since the onset of the KP, again, Belgian experts travelled to diamond producing countries, most of them on this continent, to assist, advise, help and support diamond producing countries. We took our responsibility to enhance the worldwide level of expertise and compliance, and will continue to do so.

We hope to engage with you and agree that the time for action is NOW. To conclude, I would like to thank the entire diamond community here in Zimbabwe, for the continuous confidence you have shown in the KP over the past months and years, it is a crucial signal in a challenging time.

With Zimbabwe potentially marked to play an important role in the future of the world diamond industry, the immense opportunities that lay ahead of us also come with great responsibility.

Antwerp looks forward to - once again - be a first-hand witness.

When we speak of a KP reform, I would encourage everybody, as the current KP chair has repeatedly stated, not to think of it as a revolution, but more as an evolution. Evolution means: keep the good elements, review the weak components and adjust where necessary.

Let me rephrase. We have to focus on a better implementation of the current minimum requirements; we have to bear in mind not creating a KP of double standards. We do not want to have a politicized KP, unable to act.

A strong KP means a strong international trading system based on a country by country certification; fully respectful of their

We are collectively in the hand of those who believe. Believe in the magic of diamonds.

We will be all guilty if it ever fades.

Thank you.

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Kimberley Process KP Plenary Meeting – Washington, D.C. – November 27, 2012 Over the past 10 years, the Kimberley Process has proven the effectiveness of international cooperation, said Eli Izhakoff, President of the World Diamond Council. But to continue to be able to do so, the organization needs to be able to deliver on what it promises, he said, adding that to be effective all countries need to be equally committed to the process and the decisions that are taken within the forum. Kimberley Process relies upon commitment of all participants

Speech of Eli Izhakoff to the 2012 Kimberley Process Plenary Meeting: Ladies and gentlemen, It is my honor to be addressing you today, and a privilege once again to visit this great city, which to so many people, both in America and around the world, symbolizes the principles of both national and personal freedom, and the realization of a people’s right to self-government and self-fulfillment.

The United States was born when a group of citizens released themselves from the yoke of colonialism, and became the model for what free men can achieve when they are allowed to take control over their own destiny. That sense of personal empowerment in a country rich in natural resources led to the growth of the world’s largest economy and most powerful democracy.

In January 1961, then President-Elect John F. Kennedy spoke about the “city on the hill,” saying that “the eyes of all people are upon us.” And so it has been for generations that people from around the world have looked to what has been achieved in this country, and said to themselves “we can do the same at home.”

It was to empower ordinary people in the rough diamondproducing countries of Africa to achieve what was done here in America that the Kimberley Process was created. The KP’s primary objective was never to restrict business, but rather to enhance the trade in legitimately mined goods. By eliminating the threat posed by conflict diamonds in the pipeline, KPcompliant countries would be able to take full advantage of their diamond resources, and invest in the programs necessary to create economic growth and social development.

And, as a country that undisputedly is the most shining example of a nation that relied on its physical and human assets to achieve economic independence and prosperity, it was fitting that the United States be selected to lead the Kimberley Process.

It is at this juncture I would like to recognize our host, the U.S. State Department, and in particular several of its officers with whom I have been privileged to work, starting with Ambassador Gillian Milovanovic, the Chair of the Kimberley Process.

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Eli Izhakoff I do not believe that I would be overstating the fact when I say that she took on a massively complicated and sensitive task when she was appointed KP Chair. The issues on table were challenges enough, but additionally so was the fact that she was the first American to be holding the position. She also was first woman, which in itself is a notable milestone.

I also believe that I will not be overstating things when I say that she has done a tremendous job, and during the past 11 months in office has laid the foundations for what is more inclusive, more attentive and more effective organization.

The Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs, Jose Fernandez, has been a pillar of strength and a source of great assistance, using his experience, diplomatic acumen and the influence of his office to make the United States’ year at helm of the Kimberley Process more effective. Mr. Assistant Secretary, we thank you for your efforts.

I will also like to pay tribute to the State Department official who I have known the longest and with whom I have spent the most face time, and that is Brad Brooks Rubin, whose official title is Special Advisor for Conflict Diamonds in the Bureau of Energy, Economic and Business Affairs at the United States Department of State. Brad has been part of the process for many years, and is as knowledgeable as anyone that I know about the issues at hand. He has played a critical role over the past year, and I trust will continue to do so into the future.

Just two weeks ago I attended, as did a good number of you present today, a diamond conference at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. It was a remarkable gathering that, just two years earlier, few would have predicted could have been possible. It brought together members of the Zimbabwe government and mining community, government and industry leaders from other African countries, the Chair of the Kimberley Process, members of the diplomatic corps in Zimbabwe including from the United States, members of the international diamond industry and trade, and human rights and civil society activists in Zimbabwe.

The presence of the NGOs at the conference was particularly important. Alongside government and industry, civil society has always served as the third pillar of the Kimberley Process, and without which it would not properly stand. Their attendance at that meeting, as well as at others in different parts of the world, contributes significantly to the credibility to the KP. The conference would never have taken place were it not for the agreement reached at the last Kimberley Process Plenary in Kinshasa, in November 2011, which enabled the start of exports from two KP-compliant mines in the Marange region of Zimbabwe, and detailed a mechanism that would allow for the addition of other mines in the future.

The agreement, which required the approval of all KP members, was arrived at after years of tough negotiations, and illustrated well the basic raison d’être of the Kimberley Process, and that is: through international cooperation, the integrity of the rough diamond chain of distribution can be protected, enabling producing countries and their citizens to gain fair benefit from their natural resources.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, has herself underlined the importance of international cooperation in providing solutions to the challenges facing our world, and particularly those confronting Africa. In a speech she that she delivered just this past August in Cape Town, South Africa, she said and I quote: “None of these problems can be solved by any one country acting alone or even by several countries acting together. Each one calls for a global network of partners - governments, businesses, international and regional organizations, academic institutions, civil society groups, even individuals all working in concert. And there cannot be a strong global network unless there are strong African partners.”

Well the Kimberley Process offers all of that, including strong African partners. Over the past 10 years it has proven the effectiveness of international cooperation. But to continue to be able to do so, we need to be able to deliver on what we promise. For the KP to be effective, all countries need to be equally committed to the process and the decisions that are taken within the forum.

For the process to work effectively, the consumer needs to understand that every legitimately traded diamond can be traced to a verifiable KP certificate, by way of the World Diamond Council’s Chain of Warranties. However, if we begin

to differentiate between KP certificates, implying that one may be more legitimate that the other, then we will undermine consumer confidence in general. And if that happens, then the potential of the diamond to serve as an agent for economic and social progress will be damaged - across the board, in all the countries that diamonds are mined and processed.

The goal of ensuring an ethical chain of distribution needs to be fully inclusive, but it does not mean that, in formulating equitable international solutions, we automatically should conform to the lowest common denominator. If that was the case, many of us in this room would have been spared a good number of sleepless nights.

For our part, the World Diamond Council is strongly committed to improving and reforming the Kimberley Process, so that the KP is able to act with greater decisiveness, determination and continuity, and also to expanding the definition of conflict diamonds, so that it incorporates all the instances of armed conflict and armed violence that may be associated with the rough diamond business.

Indeed, when at our Annual Meeting in Vicenza, Italy, in May of this year, Ambassador Milovanovic’s first suggested publicly that the definition of conflict diamonds be expanded to include “rough diamonds used to finance, or otherwise are directly related to armed conflict or other situations of violence,” we immediately passed a resolution that stated that this was a proposal that would advance the discussion in the KP. We also agree with the qualification that Ambassador Milovanovic provided during her speech to the diamond conference two weeks ago in Zimbabwe, in which she stated that “additional certification standards beyond the current definition should apply only to armed conflict and/or armed violence that is demonstrably related to rough diamonds and independently verified.” As she said, they should not be applicable to “isolated, individual incidents, or to circumstances or situations in which an armed conflict exists but is unrelated to the diamond sector.”

The Kimberley Process Ad Hoc Committee on Enforcement, which will deal with issues relating to the enforcement of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, is a body whose formation we also strongly support. We believe that it, too, demonstrates the firm commitment of this organization to pursue its objectives, which is to render the diamond pipeline, from mine to market, free of conflict diamonds.

The World Diamond Council is, of course, not a voting member of this body, but rather an observer. However, as one of the primary beneficiaries of the indispensable work done by the KP, we are a most dedicated and active participant.

It was for this reason that we proposed that we take responsibility for the management of permanent Administrative Support Mechanism, or ASM, which will provide logistic, organizational and communications support to the KP on an ongoing basis.

We will do so with the collaboration of four of our members,

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which include the Gem and Jewelry Export Promotion Council of India, the Israel Diamond Institute, the Antwerp World Diamond Center and the Diamond House of the Government of Ghana.

The management of the ASM will be, in the very best of a KP traditions, an international cooperative effort, joining East with West and North with South. And, as one should expect, it will have a strong African component.

It is a theme that is an integral part of all things related to the KP. The ongoing dialog between the United States and South Africa, in their respective capacities as Chair and Vice Chair of the Kimberley Process, was critical to the success of the Kimberley Process over the past year, and I would like to express the thanks of the World Diamond Council for the critical role played by Ms. Susan Shabangu, South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources, who was actively involved, giving generously of her time whenever needed.

United States. I wish him the very best of luck, and we hope to be able to work closely with him and his team over the coming year.

I thought I would conclude my address by quoting President Barak Obama, who in June of this year outlined his U.S. government’s strategy for partnering with Sub-Saharan Africa.

In his introduction to the document, he expressed a sentiment that I believe parallels closely what we want to achieve with the Kimberley Process, and I quote: “We believe that Africa can be the world’s next major economic success story. We will work with our African partners to build strong institutions, to remove constraints to trade and investment, and to expand opportunities for African countries to effectively access each other’s markets and global markets, to embrace sound economic governance, and diversify their economies beyond a narrow reliance on natural resources, and-most importantly-create opportunities for Africa’s people to prosper.”

I thank you for your attention.

I am confident that the cooperative spirit which was created during this period will continue into 2013, when South Africa takes over the helm of the KP. Ambassador Welile Nhlapo, the next KP Chair, is an experienced Washington hand, having served for years as his country’s chief representative in the

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Contact: communications@worlddiamondcouncil.org

Dossinkazerne wordt Museum en Documentatiecentrum over Holocaust en Mensenrechten Gewezen SBD-lid en bestuurslid, ridder Natan Ramet mag ongetwijfeld de founding father van het eerste holocaustmuseum in de Mechelse Dossinkazerne genoemd worden en dit betekent meteen dat hij mee aan de basis heeft gelegen van het gloednieuwe ‘Kazerne Dossin, Museum en Documentatiecentrum over Holocaust en Mensenrechten’, dat maandag 26 november officieel geopend werd. De enorme inspanningen die Natan Ramet zich daarvoor getroost heeft waren voor hem ‘voor de hand liggend’. Natan Ramet, op 5 juni 1925 in Warschau/Polen geboren, was een van de duizenden slachtoffers van het fanatiek antisemitisme van de nazi’s en de door Hitler geplande ‘Endlösung’. Op 17-jarige leeftijd werd hij samen met zijn vader gedeporteerd en zou achtereenvolgens in elf nazikampen verblijven, o.a. Warschau en Dachau. Als een van de weinigen overleefde hij ’s werelds meest beruchte concentratiekamp Auschwitz, waar hij voor zijn ogen zijn vader heeft zien vermoorden. Sindsdien stelde hij zijn hele verdere leven in het werk om ervoor te zorgen dat de herinnering aan deze schande nooit verloren zou gaan. Die inspanningen namen toe naarmate hij ouder werd en hij zijn omgeving er telkens opnieuw op wees dat ‘de laatste getuigen langzaam maar zeker aan het sterven waren en er dus dringend iets moest gedaan worden om ‘de verschrikkingen van de kampen aan de volgende generaties door te geven’.

Dat daarbij Mechelen een centrale rol speelde heeft alles te maken met het feit dat de sinds 1930 met zijn familie in Berchem wonende Natan samen met zijn vader via de Dossinkazerne met transport 6 van 29 augustus 1942 naar de kampen werd gestuurd. Zijn verschrikkelijke lijdensweg eindigt met zijn bevrijding door de Amerikanen uit het kamp Dachau in mei 1945 vanwaar hij op 22 mei naar België terugkeert.

In 1946 vestigde hij zich als zelfstandig kloverspatroon in Antwerpen en in 1960 werd de firma omgedoopt tot Steinfeld & Ramet. Al in 1948 werd hij lid van het SBD en zo begon een jarenlange hartstochtelijke verdediging van de belangen van de diamantwerkgevers. Hij was schatbewaarder van SBD (1981-1994), secretaris (1994-1998) en gemandateerd lid bij de Hoge Raad voor Diamant. Hij werd lid van de Vereniging van de Joodse Weggevoerden in België-Dochters en Zonen van de Deportatie en wanneer het Centraal Israëlitisch Consistorie van België het idee oppert om een Joods Museum van Deportatie en Verzet op te richten aanvaardt Natan het voorzitterschap van het inrichtend comité om op die manier België de geschiedenis van de Shoah te laten ontdekken. Natan Ramet werd op die manier voorzitter van het Joods Museum van Deportatie en Verzet dat in de Dossinkazerne in Mechelen gevestigd was omdat vandaar tussen 1942 en 1944 25.836 mensen richting uitroeiingskampen op transport gezet werden (25.484 Joden en 352 zigeuners). Van dat totaal overleefden 1.250 of 5% de concentratiekampen.

Het nieuwe museum is niet gebouwd op de plaats van de kazerne Dossin maar er vlak tegenover. De kazerne zelf werd in de jaren tachtig omgebouwd tot een appartementencomplex.

Pas in 1996 werd in de kazerne plaats gemaakt voor een relatief

klein museum. Toenmalig Vlaams minister-president Patrick Dewael, wiens grootvader in een concentratiekamp is gestorven, lanceerde in 2001 het plan voor een gloednieuw museum, dat door architect Bob Van Reeth werd getekend. Het witstenen gebouw is een indrukwekkend museum geworden waarvan de dichtgemetselde ramen doen denken aan de beestenwagons, waarmee de slachtoffers afgevoerd werden.

Het museum, o.l.v. huidig curator professor Rechten en Geschiedenis, Herman Van Goethem, vormt een harde confrontatie met het verleden, die begint met een grote zaal op de benedenverdieping, waarvan één wand uit 25.000 portretten van de slachtoffers bestaat, vooral zwart-witbeelden met af en toe een kleurenfoto van een overlevende. De huidige curator heeft aldus de geschiedenis rechtstreeks met de mensenrechten willen verbinden “want massageweld begint altijd met discriminatie”, aldus Herman Van Goethem. Aandacht wordt ook besteedt aan de eventuele medewerking van de Belgische overheid aan de transporten en “zeggen dat onze overheid wat minder goed had kunnen meewerken is een understatement”, zo de curator. Of de deportaties niet zouden gebeurd zijn indien de Belgische overheid niet had meegewerkt? “Toch wel, maar ze zouden wel trager verlopen zijn en hoe later je in een werkkamp aankwam, hoe groter de kans op overleving”, aldus Herman Van Goethem.

In een commentaarstuk in ‘De Morgen’(26 /11/2012) schreef huidig fractieleider van de Open VLD in de Kamer, Patrick De Wael “dat een bezoek aan het nieuwe museum meer dan aanbevolen is. We kunnen er leren wat er kan gebeuren als partijen met nationalistische en racistische ideeën aan de macht komen. Dat leidt onvermijdelijk tot tweedeling tussen ‘goede’ en ‘slechte’ mensen. Maar die mensen kunnen er niet aan doen waar ze geboren worden. En de auteur citeert Regine Beer, een van de laatste getuigen van Auschwitz, daar die schreef: “Iedere mens wordt in vrijheid geboren, iedere mens moet kunnen opgroeien en zich ontplooien in een vrije wereld. Ik kan het niet genoeg zeggen, benadrukken: vrijheid is voor mij nog steeds het belangrijkste woord uit de woordenschat”.

Voor alle inlichtingen over het museum: www.kazernedossin.com (Y.V.)

2013 Sight dates The November Sight has been moved forward one week to better accommodate for Diwali.

January 21 – 24 February 25 – 28 April 2 - 5 May 7 – 10 June 10 – 13 July 16 – 19

August 27 – 30 September 30 – October 4 November 11 – 14 December 9 – 12

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Sociaal Nieuws PC 324: Minimumlonen vanaf 03/12/2012

Sociale uitkeringen

Wegens overschrijding van het spilindexcijfer 119,62 dienen de minimumlonen vanaf 03/12/12 verhoogd te worden. De effectieve lonen dienen eveneens vanaf die datum met 2% verhoogd te worden.

De vorige overschrijding dateert van februari 2012. De volgende spilindex is vastgesteld op 122,01 punten.

Vanaf 1 december 2012 verhogen de sociale uitkeringen met 2% om ze op die manier aan te passen aan de levensduurte.

Het gaat ondermeer om de bedragen op het vlak van de werkloosheid, het pensioen, het stelsel van werkloosheid met bedrijftoeslag (het vroegere brugpensioen), het leefloon (vroegere bestaansminimum) en de kinderbijslag.

Een volledig overzicht hiervan kan u bekomen op het bureel van SBD. De indexering van de lonen in de privésector wordt in principe per paritair comité geregeld. Dit geldt echter niet voor het nationaal gewaarborgd gemiddeld minimum maandinkomen en alle bedragen die eruit voortvloeien (dus ook voor de sectoren zonder barema zoals PC 200), evenmin als voor de vergoeding collectief ontslag.

Deze volgen alle het regime van de sociale uitkeringen en moeten dan ook in december 2012 met 2% stijgen.

Grofbranche: (Slijpen, snijden en verstellen van diamant) Diamantkeurder eerste klasse brutoloon per dag. € 92,54 Diamantkeurder specialist: ten minste het loon van de diamantkeurder 1ste klasse + 10% Kleinbranche: (Slijpen, snijden en verstellen van diamant) Sorteren van diamant; verstellen van diamant, verstellen van platte goederen; verstellen van lichtjesdop; diamantkeurder tweede klasse; bewerken van gekleurde stenen; Zagen, tekenen en kloven van diamant; zaagverstellen; Andere activiteiten bruttoloon per dag € 87,26 In het begrotingsakkoord werd de automatische indexering behouden, maar de indexkorf wordt aangepast, waardoor de index - en dus ook lonen - minder snel zullen stijgen.

PC 218 Voor het Aanvullend Nationaal Paritair Comité voor de Bedienden worden de lonen jaarlijks geïndexeerd op 1 januari.

De indexprognose bedraagt momenteel 2,26%.

Responsabilisering werkgevers voor tijdelijke werkloosheid Het betreffende wetsontwerp voorziet in 2 gevallen waarin de jaarlijkse bijdrage kan worden gehalveerd: - een (tijdelijke) afwijking voor de sectoren die zich in een economische risicosituatie bevinden (KB na advies van het PC en het Beheerscomité van de RVA): de procedure hiervoor moet nog bepaald worden.

- een afwijking voor ondernemingen in moeilijkheden: op voorstel van de commissie Brugpensioenen kan de minister van Werk de bijdrage halveren. De manier waarop en de criteria moeten hier ook nog vastgelegd worden.

Wij informeren u onmiddellijk van zodra hieromtrent meer duidelijkheid is.

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Gewaarborgd minimummaandinkomen Basisbedrag: € 1.472,40 + 21,5 jaar en 6 maand anciënniteit € 1.511,48 + 22 jaar en 12 maand anciënniteit € 1.528,84 Werkloosheid (5-dg week) Begrensd loon bij brugpensioen (code 59) € 96,00 Begrensd loon bij economische werkloosheid (code 72) € 111,61

Eindejaarspremie Er bestaat geen algemene wetgeving over de eindejaarspremie.

In het Paritair Comité voor de Diamantnijverheid en –handel is er hieromtrent geen CAO; dus moet er geen eindejaarspremie betaald worden.

Dit is wel het geval in het Aanvullend Nationaal Paritair Comité voor Bedienden: het bedrag van de eindejaarspremie is gelijk aan het maandloon. De eindejaarspremie wordt in principe in de maand december betaald, tenzij in de onderneming een ander moment met de werknemers overeengekomen werd. Om recht te hebben op een volledige eindejaarspremie moet de werknemer in dienst zijn op het ogenblik van de uitbetaling van de premie en een volledig jaar in dienst zijn geweest.

De werknemer heeft evenwel recht op een pro rata eindejaarspremie indien: • hij in dienst is getreden in de loop van het jaar en ten minste 6 maanden anciënniteit heeft op het ogenblik van de betaling; • hij een contract van bepaalde duur of voor een duidelijk omschreven werk had van minstens 6 maanden, maar de onderneming verlaten heeft vóór het moment van uitbetaling van de premie;

•

hij ontslagen wordt in de loop van het jaar, behalve om dringende reden, en ten minste 6 maanden anciënniteit heeft in de onderneming op het ogenblik van het einde van de arbeidsovereenkomst; • hij zelf ontslag neemt, op voorwaarde dat hij ten minste 5 jaar anciënniteit heeft in de onderneming; • de arbeidsovereenkomst wordt beëindigd wegens medische overmacht.

Indien de werknemer in de loop van het jaar afwezig geweest is, mag dit bedrag herleid worden in functie van het aantal afwezigheidsdagen, behalve de afwezigheid wegens jaarlijkse vakantie, wettelijke feestdagen, klein verlet, betaald educatief verlof, syndicaal verlof, arbeidsongeval, beroepsziekte, bevallingsrust, geboorteverlof en de eerste 60 afwezigheidsdagen omwille van ziekte of ongeval.

Net zoals op het gewone loon worden op de eindejaarspremie drie inhoudingen verricht. Het gaat hier om de socialezekerheidsbijdragen, de bedrijfsvoorheffing en de bijzondere bijdrage sociale zekerheid.

Wijzigingen vanaf 2013 Bonusplannen of niet-recurrent resultaatsgebonden voordelen In 2013 bedraagt de maximum sociale en fiscale vrijstellingsgrens € 2.488.

Dit bedrag zou worden opgetrokken tot € 3.100; weliswaar mits een solidariteitsbijdrage van de werknemer van 13,07%.

Dit naast de 33% ten laste van de werkgever.

Leeftijdsbewust personeelsbeleid (CAO 104 NAR) Ondernemingen met meer dan 20 werknemers moeten vanaf 2013 een “werkgelegenheidsplan oudere werknemers” opstellen .

Dat plan moet maatregelen bevatten om werknemers van 45 jaar en ouder langer te behouden of door leeftijdsgerichte indienstnemingen.

Mogelijke maatregelen kunnen zijn: - aanwerven nieuwe werknemers - loopbaanbegeleiding - aanpassing aan de arbeidstijd en arbeidsomstandigheden - toegang tot opleidingen Dit werkgelegenheidsplan dient voorgelegd te worden aan het personeel (of CPBW of ondernemingsraad).

Concreet betekent dit dat dit werkgelegenheidsplan moet voorgelegd worden binnen de 3 maanden na het sluiten van het boekjaar of - als de onderneming is opgericht onder de vorm van een vennootschap - vóór de algemene vergadering.

Wij informeren u verder hoe u dit in de praktijk moet brengen.

Tijdelijke werkloosheid Het basisvergoedingspercentage voor tijdelijke werkloosheid daalt van 75% naar 70% voor gezinshoofden en alleenstaanden en van 70% naar 65% voor samenwonenden.

Indien de betrokken werknemers deelnemen aan een opleidingsplan (intern of extern) zal gedurende deze dagen het werkloosheidpercentage verhoogd worden.

De modaliteiten waaraan dit opleidingsplan moet voldoen wordt nog vastgelegd in een KB. De bedrijfsvoorheffing op de uitkeringen tijdelijke werkloosheid stijgt van 20 naar 26,75%.

Wetenschappelijk onderzoek voor ontwikkeling Het percentage gedeeltelijke vrijstelling van de bedrijfsvoorheffing op de lonen van de kenniswerkers zal van 75% naar 80% stijgen.

‘Brugpensioen’ 56 jaar De mogelijkheid tot werkloosheid met bedrijfstoeslag vanaf 56 jaar met 40 jaar beroepsverleden wordt opgeheven vanaf 31.12.2015.

Aanpassing RSZ-verminderingen - Structurele verminderingen - Doelgroepverminderingen - Oudere werknemers - Jonge werknemers - Mentoren - Verhoging werkbonus - Eerste aanwervingen Er zijn dus heel wat mogelijke verminderingen van de loonkosten. Het loont dus de moeite om na te gaan of deze correct werden toegepast.

Sociaal plan De restitutie aan de werkgevers die diamantarbeiders tewerkstellen aan het ‘eigenlijk bewerken van diamant’ in een erkende werkplaats bedraagt 55,16 % (-10 werknemers) of 56,88 % (+ 10 werknemers) van de aangegeven lonen. Hierop worden de vermelde RSZ-verminderingen afgetrokken.

Het percentage van de inning zal in 2013 0,006% bedragen.

De opschorting van de 1/3 % is op voorstel van het ICD door de Ministerraad voor 3 jaar goedgekeurd.

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Personalia Avi Paz awarded Ordre de la Couronne Avi Paz, honorary Life President of the WFDB was awarded the Ordre de la Couronne, an official title from Belgium, recognising his achievements in the development of the diamond trade between Belgium and Israel.

The award was made on 8 November 2012 on behalf of Belgium’s King Albert II by Benedicte Frankinet, Belgium’s ambassador to Israel at a ceremony held at the ambassador’s residence in Israel.

Overlijden

September 2012 4/9 - VBO - Commissie Sociale Aangelegenheden

- RVB Rijksverlofkas voor de Diamantnijverheid 6/9 - 100 Year Anniversary IGC Group 10/9 - Leerlingencommissie PC Diamant 11/9 - Fonds voor de Diamantnijverheid

- RVD 13/9 - Bezoek RVB AWDC aan WTOCD 17/9 - BE International

- Academische zitting - Investituurplechtigheid VBO 18/9 - VBO - CSA 25/9 - Plenaire zitting Paritair Comité voor de Diamantnijverheid en -handel

- RVD 27/9 - Bureel SBD

- Opening academisch jaar AUHA

- Bestendig comité WTOCD

Oktober 2012

Met diep leedwezen vernemen wij het overlijden van Dhr. Piet Torfs, 59 jaar. Hij was lid van SBD sedert 1994.

Onze vereniging neemt innig deel in de diepe rouw die de familie treft.

Wij vernemen ook het overlijden van Dhr. Isaac Trau.

Isaac Trau was van 1945 tot 2002 lid van SBD. Onze vereniging biedt de familie de uitdrukking van haar diepe medeleven aan.

RJC

2/10 - VBO - CSA

- RVD 4/10 - Bespreking Sectorconvenant 9/10 - VBO - CSA

- Vormingsfonds

- RVD 14/10 - 17/10 - Wereldcongres IDMA/WFDB Mumbai 23/10 - RVD 25/10 - RVB AWDC 30/10 - Werkgroep ICD

November 2012

Following members of SBD have achieved certification meeting the ethical, human rights, social and environmental standards as established by the RJC’s Member Certification Scheme: Dediam Fischler Diamonds Simoni Gems Weinberg

SBD

wenst u en uw familie een gelukkig en

voorspoedig Nieuwjaar

28

SBD was vertegenwoordigd

5/11 - Infosessie onderwijsactoren 6/11 - VBO - CSA

- Fonds voor de Diamantnijverheid

- RVD 8/11 - Bureel SBD 13/11 - Centrale werkgroep VBO

- VDAB - Fonds voor de Diamantnijverheid 19/11 - Meeting Technodiamant 20/11 - VBO - CSA

- RVB AWDC 22/11 - Leerlingencommissie PC Diamant

- Bureel SBD

- Infosessie werkgevers

- Werkgroep GIP 25/11 - Dag van de Wetenschap 27/11 - Fonds voor de Diamantnijverheid

- RVD

- Opening museum Kazerne Dossin 29/11 - Bestendig Comité WTOCD

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CRISDIAM DENCKENS Eduard International Diamond Manufacturers

Schupstraat 21, 2nd floor 2018 Antwerpen - Belgium info@dhv.be

Tel. : +32 (0)3 233 90 76 Fax : +32 (0)3 231 72 34 www.dhv.be

Hoveniersstraat 2 bus 240 B-2018 Antwerpen Dennenlaan 2 2243 Zandhoven Belgium Tel. 03-233.65.59 - Fax: 03-234.28.51 Tel. 03 484 30 32 www.crisdiam.com

INTERNATIONAL DIAMOND MANUFACTURERS

IMPORTERS - EXPORTERS

Hoveniersstraat 53, box 127 • B-2018 Antwerpen-Belgium Phone : (03) 206 16 00 • Fax : (03) 206 16 01 www.rosyblue.com

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