Botswana has become an affiliated member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, with the announcement made at the WFDB International Summit held in Gaborone.
Minister of Minerals and Energy Bogolo Kenewendo said the move marks a turning point for the country’s diamond ambitions, telling delegates: “For decades, Botswana has been a trusted source of the world’s finest natural diamonds. But our ambition now goes beyond mining, to bring the diamond industry home and deepen economic participation for Batswana. Our diamonds are responsibly sourced, ethically mined, conflict-free, and governed by some of the strongest institutional frameworks anywhere.”
Tying the development to Botswana’s 60th independence anniversary, the minister added: “We say our diamonds are not only natural diamonds, they are development diamonds. This is not the conclusion of a story, but the start of a new chapter, where Botswana becomes a global reference for trusted natural diamonds.”
The government’s House of Botswana initiative will be central to boosting diamond marketing and strengthening the country’s international presence as it works toward becoming a hub of natural diamond excellence.
Ahmed Bin Suyalem, Executive Chairman of DMCC, said the sector should look ahead with confidence despite recent pressures. “Even though the natural diamond sector has faced pressure in recent years, there should be confidence and optimism in the bigger picture. Countries like Botswana show why natural diamonds still matter,” he said.
WFDB President Yoram Dvash welcomed Botswana into the fold, saying: “This summit is a working session. I am confident about natural diamonds’ long-term outlook. The industry’s story is about telling the full narrative, from value chain to trading and transformation. No organisation can tackle today’s challenges alone. With Botswana and Angola now in the family, our coalition is stronger than ever.”
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