Mmegi

A ‘tarrific’ opportunity for Botswana

Gleaming: Minerals and Energy minister, Bogolo Kenewendo, admires a local diamond 
during a visit to the Gemological Institute of America’s local branch recently PIC: MBONGENI MGUNI
Gleaming: Minerals and Energy minister, Bogolo Kenewendo, admires a local diamond during a visit to the Gemological Institute of America’s local branch recently PIC: MBONGENI MGUNI

The global diamond world is scrambling to rearrange its traditional cutting and polishing channels amidst the disruption brought by U.S tariffs and Botswana could inadvertently become the biggest winner.

India, which accounts for 90% of cutting and polishing activities in the industry, presently has one of the highest tariffs for entry to the US at 50%, while another major centre China, has equally been hit at about 30%.

Other diamond centres such as Belgium, the United Arab Emirates and Israel, all have a range of tariffs from 17% down to 10%, while Botswana is set at 15%.

Editor's Comment
Public servants deserve better than union infighting

‘The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds’.- Abraham LincolnUntil then, the Council’s operations remain suspended, delaying critical decisions affecting thousands of public sector employees.The current standoff is between the Manual Workers Union on one side and the Six Cooperating Trade Unions, namely BONU, BOPEU, BTU, BDU, BOSETU and...

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