Government Hopes for Exemption from Diamond Certification

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Government Hopes for Exemption from Diamond Certification
Government Hopes for Exemption from Diamond Certification

Africa-Press – Botswana. Minister of Minerals and Energy, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo says Botswana has applied to be exempted from the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrial countries seeking to reverse an initiative requiring all diamond producers to send gems for certification.

“We are hoping that President Advocate Duma Boko will receive the good news of exemption from the G7 node, so that we can sell our diamonds directly to the markets,” Ms Kenewendo said in an interview ahead of the FACETS conference in Antwerp.

The minister said Botswana hopes to use the FACETS conference to leverage discussions and to effectively promote the country’s natural diamonds and sell the story properly to the world as well as rebuild investor and market confidence.

She said following the COVID-19 outbreak, government revenues were affected as diamonds were sold at discounts and more countries resorted to holding stock.

Ms Kenewendo said other challenges such as dilution of natural diamonds by lab grown ones also exacerbated the problem.

For his part, Minister for International Relations, Dr Phenyo Butale said FACETS was an important conference as it brought together policy makers and people involved in the diamond industry.

He noted that it was imperative for a leading diamond producer country like Botswana to be at the centre of such discussions.

Dr Butale said the meeting would afford the President Boko the opportunity to network and explore business opportunities, strengthen partnerships and promote investments in Botswana.

The Conference has brought together key stakeholders from the diamond industry and related sectors including politicians, experts, retailers and traders.

FACETS 2024 will deliberate on the current state of the diamond industry, evolving mining practices as well as the future of the diamond industry.

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