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AWDC, HRD Antwerp NV launch

May 30, 2007

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Antwerp, Belgium—A new era in the history of Antwerp's diamond sector began today with the disbanding of the old Diamond High Council (HRD) and the establishment in its place of a foundation called the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) and an independent company, HRD Antwerp NV.

Chief Executive Officer Freddy Hanard made the announcement at a press conference at the AWDC/HRD headquarters. The conference was also attended by Fientje Moerman, the Vice-Minister-President of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Economy, Enterprise, Science, Innovation and Foreign Trade, and Ludo Van Campenhout, Antwerp's City Alderman with responsibility for the diamond sector.

"One cannot overstate how important this restructuring is for the two organizations," Hanard said. "In the modern diamond-business environment, the challenges facing both are great and varied. It is essential that they be streamlined and empowered to act so that they achieve their goals in the best way possible."

The AWDC will be responsible for the advocacy and defense of the Belgian diamond sector with all municipal, provincial, regional, federal and international bodies, and also for the promotion of Antwerp as the world's leading diamond business center.

HRD Antwerp NV, which began operating on May 2, will encompass the old organization's commercial divisions. It currently has five divisions: The Diamond Lab, formerly HRD Certificates; the Precious Stones Lab; Education, formerly the HRD Institute of Gemmology; HRD Research; and HRD Equipment, formerly Comdiam.

A new AWDC logo features the Antwerp city skyline above the cutline "Antwerp World Diamond Centre." The AWDC will also use the slogan "Diamonds Love Antwerp" in its upcoming campaign and will encourage local diamond companies to incorporate it into their marketing materials.

"The association of those three words—Antwerp, Love and Diamonds—expresses the essence of our industry," Hanard explained.

HRD Antwerp NV will develop its own brand identity and corporate logo.

"While HRD Antwerp NV competes in an international environment and must operate according to its rules, the company's affiliation to the Belgian center is a major asset because it implies experience, professionalism, impeccable standards and stability. Its identity should reflect all of that," Hanard said.

At the press conference, Hanard also introduced the senior management teams of both the AWDC and HRD Antwerp NV, including the recently appointed Antwerp NV General Manager Georges Brys.
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