Botswana to transform into global diamond centre

Kedikilwe said this at a groundbreaking event of a new diamond cutting and polishing factory owned by Laurelton Diamonds Botswana (LDB) at the diamond technology park last week. He said all 16 licensed cutting and polishing factories are in operation, and significant downstream activities such as jewellry manufacturing and ancillary services are in the pipeline.

He said pursuant to the objective of establishing a Botswana Diamond Centre, he undertook a trip to Belgium and Switzerland in August where he explored collaborations between Botswana and Antwerp World Centre and further held discussions with LCF Rothschild Group, a leading bank in private banking, asset management and advisory business services. Kedikilwe also commended the diamond industry in Botswana for soldiering on through difficult times of the economic recession where the diamond production in the country was reduced by almost half from 32.6 million carats in 2008 to 17.7 million carats in 2009.