Flemish Govt. Backs Industrial-Synthetics Factory

RAPAPORT... A Belgian regional authority will invest EUR 2 million ($2.3million) in a production facility for industrial synthetics. The financial input from the government of Flanders willhelp India-based Heyaru Engineering launch the lab-grown-diamond factory - itsfirst in Europe - in the city of Lommel. Heyaru will invest about EUR 24million ($27.5 million) in the project. The hub will boost the local economy bypromoting innovation and creating employment opportunities, the governmentsaid. "Heyaru's investment not only brings new jobs, the companyalso wants to contribute to the development of a Flemish 'knowledge cluster' onsynthetic diamonds," said Philippe Muyters, the Flemish minister for economyand innovation. The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) welcomed the move,adding that the facility would mainly produce diamonds for industrial andtechnical uses. The move to Antwerp makes sense, AWDC noted, as the cityalready specializes in cutting synthetic diamonds for high-tech industries. Image: Diamond-tipped drill polishing metal. (Shutterstock)