On April 5 a meeting with the participation of NA President Artur Baghdasaryan and Mr. Herman De Croo, President of the Chambers of Representatives of the Kingdom of Belgium was between the Belgian MPs and Armenian jewelers.

The sphere of diamond cutting occupies a remarkable place in the goods turnover between the European Union and Armenia. Belgium is well known for the achievements reached in this field and the leading place occupied in the world. In the famous Belgian city Antwerp the goods turnover in the sphere of diamond cutting is 35-40bn USD annually. During the meeting, stating that Armenia has a great potential in this sphere, the President of the Chambers of Representatives of Belgium spoke about the necessity of activating the cooperation and increasing the volumes of import-export.

In recent 13 years in Armenia this kind of business entered a new qualitative new and active stage , though it has been about 40 years that the Armenians were engaged in this business, said the Armenian businessmen being involved in the sphere of diamond cutting. And during these years the Kingdom of Belgium was one of the main partners for Armenia, and the Armenian-Belgian diamond cutting companies established jointly also testified to that.

During the meeting the sides talked on the peculiarities of the diamond cutting of Armenia. They mentioned about the high qualification of the Armenian jewelers as granted, though workforce is incomparably cheaper, than in other countries. That is why, in Armenia the way of working on the principle “of returning” is more applicable, when the raw material is imported, processed and exported again. Besides, as the Armenian businessmen noted the money taken for import of the raw material and export by tax and customs legislation is not too big, which creates favourable conditions for the economic activity of that kind. Presenting also high quality product, the Armenian jewelers have already enjoyed great confidence in the world. During the meeting, Vladislav Tovmasyan, Chairman of “Andranik” company made a speech proposing to organize a visit a of the delegation comprised of Belgian specialists to Armenia, so they will study the Armenian diamond cutting market in place. The businessman is sure in the effectiveness of such visit. NA President Artur Baghdasaryan defended this proposal and called on his Belgian colleague in fulfilling it. One should boost the meetings to be continuous and contacts activated, said NA President. According to him, it will be possible to reveal in that way the whole potential of the Armenian diamond cutting. And in Armenia good bases and traditions have already been formed since Soviet times in the sphere of diamond cutting in Armenia, said the head of the parliament.

The Belgian high-ranking official noted that the desire of the Armenian businessmen’s cooperation, as well as the favourable legislative field create good preconditions for implementing joint programmes and making diamond cutting one of the leading branches in the economy of Armenia.

“Certainly, we still have to develop in that sphere,” Armenian jewelers said; especially that none of the Armenian companies were not yet represented in “De Birse” worldwide known company.