Business | Markets
Dubai targets Antwerp's crown
For more than 400 years the Belgian city of Antwerp has been the global centre of the world diamond market, its highly-skilled craftsmen transforming rough stones into finely-worked gems.
- By Robert Ditcham, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 June 23, 2006
Dubai: For more than 400 years the Belgian city of Antwerp has been the global centre of the world diamond market, its highly-skilled craftsmen transforming rough stones into finely-worked gems.
But according to a founding member of the world's leading diamond manufacturer, it is in danger of losing its crown to Dubai.
Belgium's tough federal legislation regarding money laundering and checks on the use of diamond money to finance ugly conflicts are leading manufacturers to turn their eyes to the tax-free haven of Dubai's freezones.
The emirate boasts an excellent geographical location, central to the booming diamond markets of China, Russia and the Middle East, while its wealthy population, huge influx of tourists and relatively crime-free streets make for high domestic sales. The GCC is now the third largest market in the world for diamond jewellery.
Harshad Mehta is one of the founder members of Antwerp-based diamond manufacturer Rosy Blue, which has presence in more than 15 countries. The company's global sales of loose diamonds reached $1.7 billion (Dh6.25 billion) last year, with $200 million (Dh736 million) sold in the GCC region and UAE sales worth $40 million (Dh147.2 million).
Mehta, also vice-chairman of Dubai Diamond Exchange, said the diamond giant is considering a future shift of its main administrative headquarters to Dubai. He claimed others will follow.
"The diamond industry moved to Antwerp in the first place because less questions were asked there and it was easier for the diamond workers to do business," he said. "Now more and more questions are being asked in Antwerp about sales and margins and where money is coming from, so people are getting fed up and saying let's move to Dubai."
But he added: "Dubai is still small compared to centres like Antwerp and it will take time for any major or significant change."
Others were slightly more bullish.
Jonathan Chippindale, marketing director of Gulf Markets for DTC, the sales and marketing arm of the De Beers Group, said: "All the major companies are looking at Dubai.
Fiscal advantage
"Saying that Antwerp is finished would be extremely premature, but the challenge is coming from Dubai. It is a major regional player now and it can be the major global player in the future."
Chippindale said any view that Dubai is unregulated is "way off", but claimed it has "a tremendous fiscal advantage" in terms of its tax-free status.
Federal legislation faced by the Antwerp diamond industry is considered to go beyond action taken by other countries. The HRD, an organisation representing Antwerp's diamond sector, recently met with Belgium Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt to discuss a report outlining issues weakening the competitive position of the country's diamond traders.
But according to Chantal Abboud, the HRD's representative in the Middle East, their fears were exaggerated and Antwerp's position is likely to remain intact.
"I'm not convinced that there will be any shift away from Antwerp," she said. "I have not seen even the smallest trader consider completely closing down their Antwerp offices and move to Dubai."
Abboud admitted Dubai's diamond sector is growing, but said the two sectors will work in co-operation rather than against each other. She also recognised Dubai's advantages, including its tax free status, but claimed if the industry was simply concerned with tax, the shift would already have happened.
Dubai is also considered to have an edge over Antwerp in terms of safety of moving goods. The Belgian city has been rocked by a series of huge diamond heists. "The logistics are here and the infrastructure is in place to handle the all requirements of the diamond industry," said Pearl Chandrawansa, general manager of branded jewellery at Rosy Blue FZE.
More from Markets
More from Business
Business Editor's choice
-
‘Wrong Way' Krugman
The source of our economic malfunction lies with government-mandated bank regulations
-
Greek exit could make Eurozone stronger
Departure will show limits of bailouts and allow remaining members to act much more like a unit
-
UAE upholds values of free trade
Recently released statistics confirm an established fact, namely that of the UAE embracing the free trade principle in general and imports in particular
