The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) and the Antwerpsche Diamantkring diamond exchange have officially opened the Antwerp Diamond Tender facility (ATF) on the first floor of the AWDC building.
The Antwerp Diamond Tender facility enables companies to tender their goods in the heart of the Antwerp diamond district. It features seven viewing rooms, and access via video control. It is available for rent by firms tendering rough goods in the city.
The office space was officially opened on Wednesday by Antwerp's diamond sector Alderman Ludo Van Campenhout.
Freddy Inzlicht, President of the Antwerpsche Diamantkring, says; "As the world's leading rough diamond bourse, we are committed to continuing 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."
The AWDC's Chief Executive Officer, Ari Epstein, says the tender facility is another tangible project that derives directly from the vision of the Antwerp Diamond Masterplan, and aimed to retain Antwerp's position as "the number one diamond trade hub in the world."
Meanwhile, Firestone Diamonds Chief Executive Officer Tim Wilkes comments: "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 we look forward to developing the relationship."
And First Element's Chief Executive Officer Johan Erikson adds: "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."