The Belgian Ambassador in Luanda, Jozef Smets, stressed that Belgium is a "modest partner" of Angola, but with a historical presence, emphasizing the proximity of Congo.
"Although we are not in the group of major trading partners we have an African vocation and a continuous presence, it is part of our foreign policy," Smets stressed, highlighting the interest in partnerships in the diamond sector.
The diplomat pointed to Antwerp's role in the sector, stressing that this business centre only survives with a total guarantee of transparency.
"We cannot, in a transparent economy like the Belgian one, allow ourselves the lack of transparency in a very delicate sector," Jozef Smets stressed, praising Angola's "very strong participation" in the Kimberley Process.
The Kimberley Process aims to certify the origin of diamonds, created in 2003, to prevent the purchase and sale of blood diamonds from conflict areas and to prevent the financing of arms in African countries.
However, the Belgian ambassador was "a little surprised to see that part of Angola's diamond production goes to other places where it has less transparency" than Antwerp, which also ensures greater capacity to generate revenue.
The President, João Lourenço, visited Belgium in 2018 and was able to see "how this sector works", which guarantees sales "in the best conditions and that the revenues actually enter the State Budget", the ambassador said.
In November last year, the president of the Antwerp Diamond Council, Nishit Parivih, was received by João Lourenço, with whom he discussed development initiatives and partnerships in the diamond sector in Angola.
Jozef Smets considered that the ongoing institutional reform in the diamond sector will make the country more attractive to Belgian companies.
"Angola is doing this restructuring of the diamond sector and we are accompanying this process and we want to essentially offer partnerships to strengthen Angola's capacity to control the quality and also the origin of diamonds," to improve transparency, he said.
"We know that the authorities are concerned about informal activities in the diamond mines, promoted by people who cross the border and who work, without control or transparency, and we have in common with the authorities the will to strengthen transparency," he said.
Josef Smets acknowledged that the diamond sector, like oil, is going through "a very difficult phase" due to the effects of the covid-19 pandemic, but he was convinced that the country's efforts will continue to be supported by European and multilateral institutions.
The National Diamond Company of Angola (Endiama) expects a 20 percent reduction in diamond production this year, in the order of 10 million carats.
Belgium is also looking with interest at the port sector and Jozef Smets sees this as an opportunity to diversify the economy.
On the Antwerp side, the idea would be to enter the management of one of the ports, he said, pointing to the port complexes of Soyo or Cabinda as preferential.
Antwerp has links to several ports in Africa, including the Congo and Benin, and could "attract other actors and investors" as it is a "credible partner", stressed the Belgian diplomat.
"We know that Angola is interested in developing the petrochemical sector and Antwerp's presence could attract companies in that sector. In the context of the diversification of the Angolan economy, this may be the first sector to diversify," he suggested.
The uncertainty caused by the covid-19 pandemic, however, brings added difficulties to João Lourenço's actions, in relation to which the ambassador highlighted the "serious fight against corruption" and the policy of abandoning dependence on the oil sector.
"He deserves our support and we have a lot of respect for the efforts that Angola has been making", the diplomat praised.
The Belgian community in Angola has around 300 people, with around 15 companies present in the country.
