|
RAPAPORT... Botswana: DTC Botswana (Diamond Trading Company Botswana,) the 50/50 joint venture between the Government of the Republic of Botswana (GRB) and the De Beers Group, today announced the outcome of the first application process for the supply of rough diamonds to manufacturers in Botswana. After undergoing a robust and objective evaluation process, all 16 licence holders in Botswana have met the criteria for supply and will become DTC Botswana Sightholders for the three year contract period (2008-2011.)
“Today is a momentous day for Botswana and its citizens. It is expected that $360 million of rough diamonds will be sold by DTC Botswana to Sightholders in 2008, with this amount set to grow to $550 million by 2009. The purpose of DTC Botswana is to maximise the long-term value that Botswana derives from diamonds. Our role in delivering this objective is through DTC Botswana’s sorting, valuing, selling and marketing activities,” said Kago Moshashane, Acting Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Minerals Energy & Water Resources and a Director of DTC Botswana.
A new era in the development of the country’s downstream diamond industry began with the agreement to create DTC Botswana, the diamond sales and marketing company, in May 2006. Over the past 25 years, Botswana has had one of the fastest growing economies in the world with diamond revenue representing approximately 33 percent of the country’s GDP. The establishment of DTC Botswana will be a catalyst in the GRB’s vision for the long-term growth and diversification of the country’s economy by encouraging the development of new business sectors such as banking, security, IT and tourism, as well as international business investment in Botswana.
“We have communicated to each of our clients how much we will supply them from 1st January 2008, provided of course their factories are operational, and that we’ll be supplying them directly here in Botswana from April 2008. This will help create in excess of 3,000 jobs, new skills and foreign capital investment in Botswana,” commented Brian McDonald, Managing Director of DTC Botswana.
“We are pleased that all 16 licence holders were successful and are delighted to welcome on board our new clients for our first supply contract period. All of our new clients have the requisite skills, experience and global reach to ensure that Botswana develops a world-class competitive, sustainable and economically efficient industry,” concluded Varda Shine, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of DTC Botswana and Managing Director of DTC International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the De Beers Group.
The successful applicants for diamond supply contracts from DTC Botswana are:
1. Ascot Diamonds
2. Dalumi Botswana
3. DDA of Botswana
4. Diamond Manufacturing Botswana
5. Eurostar Botswana
6. H& A Cutting Works Botswana
7. Lazare Kaplan Botswana
8. Leo Schachter Botswana
9. Moti Ganz Botswana
10. Pluczenik Botswana pty ltd
11. Rand Precision Cut Diamonds
12. Safdico Botswana
13. Suashish Diamonds Botswana
14. Teemane Manufacturing Company
15. Yerushalmi Brothers Diamonds Botswana
16. Zebra Diamonds (IGC Group)
For further information, please contact:
Kungo Lentswe, DTC Botswana Communications Officer,
Tel: (+267) 366 9514
Chipo Morapedi, De Beers Botswana Communications Officer,
Tel: (+267) 3615209
Doreen Motshegwa, MMEWR Public Relations Officer,
Tel: (+267) 3656620
DIAMOND TRADING COMPANY BOTSWANA (DTC Botswana)
From 2008, DTC Botswana will be the country’s premier diamond sorting, valuation, sales and marketing company. Replacing the existing Botswana Diamond Valuing Company (BDVC), DTC Botswana is a joint partnership between the Government of the Republic of Botswana and De Beers.
DTC Botswana will be responsible for the sorting and valuing of all diamond production from Debswana, Botswana’s leading diamond mining company. DTC Botswana will also be selling diamonds to its Sightholder client base in Botswana in order to drive the sustainable expansion of the Botswana diamond industry. DTC Botswana is committed to maximising the wide-ranging opportunities for Botswana’s diamond manufacturing industry, including new jobs, new skills and foreign capital investment.
|