Zimbabwe Eyes International Diamond Tenders

RAPAPORT... Zimbabwe's state-owned diamond miner is planning tendersoutside the country in an effort to attract more buyers, Bloomberg reportedThursday. The Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) intends tohold 11 international sales in 2020, the news agency cited the miner's actingCEO, Rob De Pretto, as saying. Its tenders are currently in Harare, thecountry's capital, but the location does not appeal to clients, the reportcontinued. "We are exploring opportunities and new markets to sell ourproducts," De Pretto said in an email to Rapaport News Monday. "The keyinternational markets [where] most producers are selling their goods are Antwerp,Dubai, India and Singapore," he added, without providing details on where orwhen the sales would take place. Zimbabwe's diamond industry is centered on the Marangefields in Chiadzwa. ZCDC expects to produce 3.1 million carats this year, 24%lower than the 4.1 million carats it previously predicted, according toBloomberg. However, the miner is predicting an increase to 6.1 million caratsin 2020, the report said. Image: An earth-moving truck at Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company operations. (Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company)