[miningmx.com] – BOTSWANA’s Gaborone staged the first day of the country’s inaugural rough diamond sight with the world’s diamond polishers and cutters gathering in the southern African country’s capital.
Diamond sights – when manufacturers buy parcels of diamonds sourced from a number of locations including Botswana – were moved to Gaborone from London as one of the terms for a new marketing agreement between De Beers and the Botswana government.
“Africa was home to the diamond industry when it began in the late 19th century and De Beers and its partners were central to that growth,” said Philippe Mellier, CEO of De Beers, 85% owned by Anglo American. “As we make this move, Africa is once again at the forefront as De Beers and its partners lead the diamond industry into a sparkling new chapter in its illustrious history.’
The move will be a catalyst for economic growth across southern Africa with the region now the world’s primary source of rough diamonds sales, creating further employment opportunities in ancillary services such as banking, security, IT and supply chain, said De Beers in a statement.
