HRD Voices Disapproval Over De Beers Sightholder Shake Up
June 12, 03
HRD Managing Director Peter Meeus has expressed some criticism over the changes in De Beers Sightholders list during a speech last night at the Antwerp Diamond High Council Awards for 2003 ceremony.
Meeus told the crowd that Antwerp does not “accept this decision of De Beers the way it has been presented because a relation can only stand when there is a win-win situation”. At least six Sightholders in Antwerp lost their Sight in the recent shake up.
He went on saying that in the over one hundred year relationship, Antwerp and De Beers needed each other and “as a consequence, both should take into account the mutual considerations”.
Meeus added that next week a delegation from De Beers is coming to Antwerp to discuss this issue. At the meeting the HRD is expected to tell De Beers that if Antwerp is to subscribe to the miners Supplier of Choice strategy, then it expects a commitment for a new role of Antwerp from De Beers in return.
In a sign of Antwerp’s interest in going along with the SoC strategy, Meeus declared at the event the intention of turning Antwerp into a jewelry center.
"As the vertical integration between mining companies, diamond manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers is accelerating, Antwerp wants to become a service provider for these new jewelry activities,” he said last night.
Meeus envisions economic growth, creating new jobs and an expansion of the Antwerp diamond industry.