SAFDICO PROMOTES BOTSWANA DIAMONDS Southern African Diamond Corporation (SAFDICO) aims to play a leading role in establishing Botswana as an international diamond centre. Briefing the media about the latest company developments, SAFDICO’s Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Rutang Moses said the development of a Diamond Technology Park has enabled diamond companies to be housed in one area making it easy for them to conduct their business efficiently. Situated behind Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB) along airport road, the diamond park was established in 2008 to satisfy demand for increased office and manufacturing pace and it houses diamond cutting and polishing companies (sightholders), jewelry manufacturing, brokers and traders. Other than developing the park, SAFDICO is one of the sightholders, meaning they are DTCB clients involved in diamond cutting and polishing. She said they used their international experience in developing the park, which came after the government successfully negotiated for the transfer of diamond downstream activities, diamond cutting and polishing, jewelry manufacturing and sales to Botswana from London. This resulted with the establishment of DTCB and De Beers Global Sightholder Sales (DBGSS). About 16 sightholders were then licensed and Ms. Moses said they have been able to stay ahead of the industry hence have been able to provide office accommodation to various companies involved in the diamond industry, from mining companies to tenderers. The park has been developed in phases and the first building was ‘the courtyard’ and the second was the ‘Atrium’ developed as industrial buildings and office to accommodate downstream diamond businesses. As the diamond industry continued to expand, in 2012 the diamond park entered the second phase which was construction the third building, ‘the bourse’ that houses tender houses and additional office space. Currently, SAFDICO is building their fourth building, which will be the biggest in the four hectors plot adjacent to Bank of Botswana. With four floors of 4 000 square metres, the building already has 67 per cent booked and is to accommodate tendering activities and is scheduled to be completed in December this year. Ms. Moses said for the P71 million project fully funded by her company, they have dug a borehole within the premises. SAFDICO Botswana, which is a subsidiary of SAFDICO International, received the Presidential Order for Meritorious Service during Independence Day for its ‘leadership in identifying an opportunity to be part of the creation of diamond industry and contribute towards Botswana Government’s vision to transform Botswana from being the largest producer of diamonds to a leading international diamond centre’. The building under construction has been separated from the rest of the diamond park due to security reasons and there is still room within the park for further developments. Ms Moses said a total of 800 people have been employed by companies in the park while a further 200 work in construction sites, hence her company has been able to play a role in employment creation and it also supports other sectors such as catering, landscaping and security. Companies housed in the Diamond Technology Park include the Okavango Diamond Company, the government’s diamond trading arm and Gemological Institute of America, independent diamond valuers. (BOPA)
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 07:35:00 +0000