We are pleased to inform our readers that Daniel Van Dievoet has been elected Vice-President of the HRD.
A long awaited result has thus been achieved. The market has said loudly for more than a year now that it cannot accept that the President and Vice-President both be sightholders from De Beers.
Mr. Daniel Horowitz and Mr Bharat Shah have been selected by the Directors from the Group Handel to be delegates respectively to the Executive Committee and Finance Committee.
Commenting on the last minute candidacy of Mr Kurt Einhorn for the Executive Committee, the BVGD wishes to extend praise to Mr Einhorn for his disinterested and courageous suggestion but feels that in light of the heavy work that needs to be done in the months ahead, it is crucial to have someone who is fully available to address the many issues that lie ahead.
To all who are questioning our commitment for the future, we are asking them to allow us to show that we are truly interested in the welfare of the diamond industry in Antwerp.
As our President, Mr Van Dievoet, has said at the Board meeting of the HRD, "We are not against DTC, nor the sightholders. We fully understand that the DTC and the sightholders are of vital importance for Antwerp."
However, we want to ensure that all players, larger and smaller, can prosper in Antwerp as only an environment where all can grow and create wealth around them is in the mutual benefit of all economic operators as well as to the city and country.
Many issues have to be addressed now. We commit ourselves to meet tirelessly - in the BVGD and with the Group Handel - to draft constructive resolutions to ensure that Antwerp remains the leading center for diamond trading in the world.
Any positive suggestions from our members, as well as from the market, are welcome.
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