The Belgian consulate in India called on the government to cancel the 2 percent import duty on diamonds, which has a negative impact on trade between the two countries, Rapaport reports citing DNA.
"Due to the 2 per cent import duty on diamonds, imports from Antwerp in the last quarter (from January to March) fell by 5%. If the duty is abolished, this will certainly lead to an increase in trade between Belgium and India, and will improve the condition of both countries' traders, "said Consul General of Belgium in India Karl van den Bossche.
Last week, Bosch visited Surat, where he attended the opening of the diamond laboratory HRD Antwerp. Bosche noted that Belgium has always been in favor of stimulating business development, whether it is simplifying the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme or facilitating trade or cutting and polishing diamonds.
"In Antwerp, we began to sell rough diamonds through tenders so that even small diamond cutting enterprises could purchase raw materials of the quality they need. And again, we are making every effort to ensure the high quality of raw materials, "said Bosche.