De Beers rallies local banks to support the midstream
Friday, May 05, 2023 | 320 Views |
Value add: De Beers’ activities support nearly 40 local firms and about 4,000 jobs in the diamond cutting and polishing sector
De Beers’ executives recently held a diamond masterclass attended by high level officials from the country’s commercial banks, in an effort to sensitise them about the industry and the role played by financiers in better positioning Botswana globally.
The number of cutting and polishing firms in the country, who represent the diamond industry’s midstream, grew to 48 at the end of last year, from 21 in 2020 and less than five about 10 years ago.
Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...