World Diamond Council chairman Eli Izhakoff was recently awarded the title of Officer of the Order of King Leopold by His Majesty King Albert II of Belgium.

Izhakoff was hailed for his work as president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses and head of the World Diamond Council.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Louis Michel noted that, as WFDB president, he helped open the markets of the Far East to Antwerp and ensured the city a permanent seat on the WFDB executive committee.