Veteran Antwerp Leaders to Receive Israeli Honors

Roth is the former chairman of the AWDC and Beller president of the Antwerp Diamond Exchange (Beurs voor Diamanthandel). In their leadership roles, the two supported the Israeli diamond industry and helped develop the commercial ties between the centers, the IDE said on Sunday.

Both started their diamond career in 1954. In 1956, Roth established Star Diamonds, a leading rough diamond trading company and in 1983, he was elected to the board of the HRD. He headed the organization since 2004, taking it through the truculent changes that included a structural change and the renaming of the organization to Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC).

Beller became a member of the Antwerp Diamond Exchange in 1957 and in 1983, he was elected to its board. Two years later, he was appointed vice president of the bourse and in 2003 was elected president.

“They always showed support for the state of Israel and acted to strengthen the commercial ties between Belgium and Israel in all their roles,” IDE President Avi Paz said, adding that they have contributed to the development of the industry and its success. “We are proud to award them title that expresses the deep appreciation we have for them.”