WINDHOEK, Sept. 30 — Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Wednesday said the country must position its natural diamonds globally by highlighting their rarity, authenticity, quality and responsible provenance amid changes in the diamond market.
She was speaking at the unveiling of a 176.29-carat natural diamond recovered by Namdeb, Namibia’s leading diamond miner, at its Southern Coastal Mine in Oranjemund in May, which she said was the largest diamond of its kind discovered at the mine in the past two decades.
The president called for Namibia to strengthen its participation in the international diamond value chain through commercially viable opportunities in cutting, polishing, jewelry manufacturing and related industries.
Such initiatives should be guided by economic considerations, market demand and the availability of appropriate skills and technology, she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said stronger participation in the diamond value chain could help expand economic activity and generate revenue to support public services including education, healthcare, housing and infrastructure development.
She congratulated Namdeb and its employees on the discovery, saying it should renew Namibia’s commitment to ensuring that its mineral wealth contributes to shared prosperity. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
