HRD Antwerp to Open Moscow Grading Lab

RAPAPORT... HRD Antwerp will launch a grading center in Moscow, itsfirst in Russia, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) said Tuesday. The diamond-certification organization, a subsidiary of theAWDC, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russian Deputy FinanceMinister Alexei Vladimirovich Moiseev during the Kimberley Process intersessionalin Antwerp this week. "This collaboration will further enhance confidence in thediamond and jewelry market in Russia and worldwide," said Ari Epstein,president of the board of directors for HRD Antwerp. The MoU is an importantstep in highlighting Russia as an industry leader for transparency, he added. The signing took place in the presence of Ludo VanCampenhout, Antwerp's alderman for diamonds.