13 Oct 2022

As Botswana prepares to move from rough to fine products,  it is ready to grow its partnership with Lucara by seeking attachment of young marketing professionals to acquire expertise. 

  The move would also assist retain jobs locally for the benefit of Batswana, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi told visiting New York based Lucara Natural Diamond Council chief executive officer Mr David Kellie in Mmamashia Wednesday where he is attending a cabinet/ accounting officers retreat.

  Mr Kellie’s visit follows a conversation on promotion of natural diamonds he had with President Masisi when he was in New York recently.

Their meeting comes at a time when producers are advocating for the sale of natural diamonds over synthetic ones.

  President Masisi said Botswana would work with like-minded partners to continue advocating for the sale of natural diamonds over the lab-grown alternative.

He said Botswana’s resolve on the sale of natural diamonds resulted from what the gems had done for the country, its people and its democracy.

“For us, natural diamonds are all that we know. We know nothing about artificial diamonds. These diamonds have enabled us to run a country like this,” said the President. 

He attributed Botswana’s ability  to emerge from COVID-19 and  its  recovery post the pandemic  to  diamonds.

  Dr Masisi stressed the importance of good governance in the diamond industry and other natural resources.

Botswana, he said, remained the only country in the world that had reserved 40 per cent of its land to conservation which was made possible by diamonds.

Responding, Mr Kellie said his company promoted the sale of natural diamonds which in the end would grow the industry and improve the lives of those who relied on diamond revenue.

Although synthetic diamonds had brought glamour and complexity to the markets, in the case of natural diamonds, there would always be of spillover businesses that could empower communities where they were produced, he said. ends