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Press Release: Burhan Seber, the president of the Diamond Manufacturers Association of Namibia (DAIMAN), was appointed to the Diamond Board of Namibia by the Honorable Isak Katali, Namibia's Minister of Mines & Energy, for a term of four years. DIAMAN is one of the 16 members of the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA), the representative body of the world's diamond manufacturers. DIAMAN joined IDMA in 2009. Seber is the managing director and majority shareholder of Hardstone Processing (Pty.) Ltd., one of the 12 sightholders of the Namibian Diamond Trading Company (NDTC). Namibia's Diamond Board consists of 14 government-appointed members. The body advises the minister on matters relating to the diamond industry and particularly to the control and protection of the country's diamond resources. "The board's main objective is to safeguard and maximize the benefits of this finite natural resource for Namibia, in line with 'GRN's Vision 2030, which sets targets to eradicate poverty by 2030. This is especially important today when the global diamond industry is at crossroads, and where producer countries are the most vulnerable. It is an honor to be appointed to the Board and as such be entrusted to advise the minister in affairs of such national importance," Seber noted. IDMA's president Maxim Shkadov and its secretary general Ronnie VanderLinden sent a congratulatory message to Seber. "We're confident that your appointment and your active involvement in the board's work will be a tremendous asset to the diamond manufacturing industry in Namibia and also will be beneficial to the communications between the manufacturers and the various governmental offices and institutions that regulate the diamond industry," they wrote. About IDMA IDMA was founded and convened for the first time in 1946, in Antwerp. It is committed to fostering and promoting the highest ideals of honesty and best practice principles throughout the global diamond industry, as well as full compliance with all relevant national and international laws. The organization has developed and adopted a Code of Conduct, which is binding on all 15 member associations. IDMA also works to encourage fair and honorable practices and decent working conditions for industry employees; and to preserve, protect and promote consumer trust and confidence in diamonds. It encourages and supports social responsibility by the industry in respect to all citizens of the world. The Association has played an active role in establishing the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and is a co-founder of the World Diamond Council.
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