2009 Antwerp Diamond Symposium will discuss 'The Diamond Industry in the New Economy'

The 2009 edition of the Antwerp Diamond Symposium is being held at the Province House, in Antwerp, between November 15-16, 2009 with the agenda of discussing condition and prospects of the diamond markets as the world economy begins its journey into recovery. The theme of the Symposium is “The Diamond Industry in the New Economy”.

The event will host workshops on November 15, which would largely will set the tone of the discussions during the formal symposium sessions for November 16. “The 2008 Antwerp Diamond Symposium was held at a critical juncture for the diamond industry, and I believe that the same is true for the symposium in 2009,” said Freddy J. Hanard, CEO of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), the host of the event.

“Last year, it was a seminal experience, at which for the first time the leadership of our industry considered together the impact of the meltdown in the financial markets and the measures that needed to be taken so that the diamond business could withstand the inevitable downturn. Strategies that were discussed then, like the temporary curtailing of rough production, were eventually introduced by the mining companies. Today, the initial signs of recovery are becoming apparent, but things are unlikely to revert to where they were 18 months ago. The goal of the 2009 symposium is to look at the new economy and to discuss how we, as a business community, should adapt to its different rules and conditions.” Mr. Hanard added. The names of the participating speakers at the symposium will be announced soon.