Africa-Press – Angola. The lack of bank financing is conditioning the exploration of diamonds in cooperatives established in Bié, with news that, after being licensed, in 2017, nine ceased to operate due to financial difficulties.
The director of the Provincial Office for Integrated Economic Development, Israel Elavaco, was quoted this Friday (4th) as declaring that those services are studying mechanisms to mobilize funding, in order to safeguard the position of these companies, with operations in municipalities of Andulo, Nharea, Camacupa and Chitembo.
According to the source, last year, 11 cooperatives that carry out the activity regularly managed to produce 32,869 carats of diamond, which allowed the State to collect 33.36 million kwanzas in tax.
Israel Elavoco also made it known that the illegal exploitation of diamonds in that part of the country has decreased significantly, due to the actions of the Angolan Armed Forces and the National Police, especially after the implementation of “Operation Transparency”.
“In past years, we registered many foreigners of different nationalities and Angolans in the diamond areas of Seteca, Lúbia, Chicume and Cassuma (Nhârea) and Chimbanba and Calussinga (Andulo) practicing this activity irregularly, but now the number has dropped drastically”, highlighted.
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