Namibia's Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, said at the conclusion of the sixth meeting of the African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA) Council of Ministers that was held in Windhoek earlier this month, that he remains adamant that rough diamonds have the potential to contribute to improving the lives of citizens and not only generate revenue for the state.
"For centuries diamonds have been regarded all over the world as symbols of everlasting love, beauty and accomplishment. Rough diamonds are a special, unique strategic mineral that not only generate revenue for diamond-producing countries but more importantly have the potential to contribute significantly towards efforts to improve the lives of our citizens through job creation, skills development, value addition, technology transfer and intellectual property transfer," Alweendo said, addressing the ADPA member countries at the closing session of the meeting.
He also pointed out that the ADPA members should use the ADPA's platform to promote common interests and begin to understand and appreciate their place in the global diamond industry as African diamond producers. The ADPA platform must serve as a vehicle to advance the common the members for the ultimate benefit of their countries' citizens. Alweendo urged the members not to underestimate threats to the industry such as the dwindling margins across the diamond value chain, as wells as lab grown diamonds.
The ADPA should promote the interests of sharing the good that diamonds do in each of the members' countries and deliberate on how their governments can leverage this promote and keep natural diamonds in the front of the minds of global consumers.
Alweendo also advised the ADPA members to further unlock the benefits from the industry, as well as to strive to do so in a manner that promotes the sustainability of the industry and share best practice across the ADPA member countries, with a particular focus on legislation and policies to unlock further value addition/beneficiation opportunities across the African diamond industry.