Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Zimbabwe to host diamond conference

Zimbabwe to host diamond conference
Posted by By Our reporter at 21 September, at 00 : 00 AM

ZIMBABWE will next month hold a conference on diamonds which will draw participants from some of the world’s largest beneficiation firms, an official said on Monday. The two day conference, organised by Afrimond Zimbabwe will start on October 26.

Afrimond Zimbabwe operations director and area representative for South African-based Afrimond Diamond and Jewellery Institute Sakiwe Ndhlovu said the event was meant to promote value addition of the precious stones.

“We intend to hold the Diamond Symposium from 26 to 28 October and we hope this will become an annual event that will bring together diamond experts and practitioners from all around the world,” she said.


“The conference will discuss matters that will promote diamond beneficiation and encourage the utilisation of the resources to the benefit of the African people,” she added.

Ms Ndhlovu said organisations expected to attend the conference include India Diamond Association, World Diamond Council, African Diamond Producers Association, Israel Diamond Associations, and Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

She said the symposium was crucial to Zimbabwe which recently discovered one of the largest alluvial diamonds at Marange in the eastern province of Manicaland.

Ms Ndhlovu said Zimbabwe, whose recently discovered alluvial deposits are estimated to have potential to satisfy 25 percent of global diamond demand, could easily dominate the industry.

“Zimbabwe will become a major supplier and producer within the next three years taking over from Botswana,” she said.

“Undoubtedly, it may not make sense to talk of diamond supply chain systems without talking about Zimbabwe,” she added.

Various government Ministries would also participate at the conference, which is also aimed at bridging the skills gap between Africa and the West.

“We intend to promote training, skills and knowledge dissemination in order to bridge the skills gap that already exists in this field between Africa and the West,” said Ms Ndhlovu. – New Ziana.

Labels: DIAMONDS

posted by MrK @ 12:25 AM