HRD Antwerp Expands Global Jewellery Education Footprint to India

HRD Antwerp has formally launched its globally benchmarked education programmes in India, marking a significant step in making structured diamond and jewellery training more accessible to industry professionals across the country. The initiative brings internationally aligned learning in diamonds, gemmology and jewellery directly to the Indian market.

The inauguration event in Mumbai was attended by key dignitaries, including Frank Geerkens, Consul General of Belgium in Mumbai, and Mehul N. Shah, Vice President of the Bharat Diamond Bourse. The launch coincided with the first official visit to India by Paul De Wachter, CEO of HRD Antwerp, underscoring the strategic importance of the Indian market for the institution.

Senior leadership from HRD Antwerp, including COO Stanley De Belie and CFO Philip Baeten, were present alongside the organisation’s India leadership team—Managing Director Ramakant Mitkar, Sales Director Chandrakant Narkar, and Global Education Manager Anand Gusani, who will spearhead the expansion and execution of the education initiatives locally.

Courses will be delivered at HRD Antwerp’s Mumbai education centre, offering students, retailers, entrepreneurs and industry professionals the opportunity to pursue European-standard training without travelling overseas. The curriculum blends theory with practical instruction and spans diamond grading and identification, gemmology, gemstone treatments, small diamond expertise, lab-grown diamonds and jewellery market studies.