Mumbai: HRD Antwerp has expanded and renovated its diamond grading laboratory in Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, increasing daily processing capacity to around 2,000 diamonds and strengthening its technical and research capabilities in India.
The upgraded facility was inaugurated on 4 September 2026 during a two-day visit to India by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever. The expansion represents an approximately 30 per cent increase in both grading output and technical research capacity.
To support the larger operation, HRD Antwerp is adding 40 full-time employees to its Mumbai team. The BKC facility serves as the central hub for the organisation’s Indian operations, supported by a wider network across key trade centres including Surat, Jaipur, Kolkata, New Delhi, Hyderabad and SEEPZ.
India has become increasingly important to HRD Antwerp’s global business. The country currently contributes around 59 per cent of the organisation’s total revenue, with the Indian business expected to grow 15.4 per cent this year, ahead of the group’s projected overall growth of 12.6 per cent.
Jewellery grading has emerged as a major contributor to this growth, accounting for 47 per cent of the company’s total revenue increase.
Commenting on the investment, Paul De Wachter, Chief Executive Officer, HRD Antwerp, said India’s position as the world’s leading diamond cutting and polishing centre makes continued investment in local grading infrastructure essential.
Ramakant Mitkar, Managing Director, HRD Antwerp India, said the expanded Mumbai laboratory is aimed at meeting rising demand from domestic retailers and international buyers seeking independent third-party certification for natural diamonds.
HRD Antwerp established its operational presence in India in 2012 and now serves around 1,500 clients across the country, including diamond manufacturers, polishers and jewellery retailers.
During his visit to the facility, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever observed the grading process and examined a natural diamond under a microscope. He described India as the manufacturing engine of the global diamond industry, with Antwerp continuing to serve as a major commercial gateway.
The expanded Mumbai lab strengthens HRD Antwerp’s position in one of the world’s most important diamond markets while reinforcing the role of grading, transparency and independent certification in the global natural diamond trade.