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De Beers, Botswana Minerals Ministry to Host Development Conference
Nov 15, 2015 10:24 AM
By Rapaport News
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RAPAPORT... De Beers will co-host a conference in Gaborone later this
month in conjunction with Botswana’s Ministry for Minerals, Energy and Water
Resources, dealing with the impact of the diamond industry on the country’s
development.
The two-day event on November 23 and 24, entitled
‘Connecting Resources and Society,’ will address how the responsible management
of resources can ensure diamond exploration benefits future generations. All sessions
will be available to view online at www.connectingresources2015.com.
It comes nearly 50 years after Botswana’s independence in
1966 and two years after De Beers moved its sales operation from London to the
African state in 2013.
Organized by policy institute Chatham House, the conference
will feature speakers and panelists from Botswana’s public and private sectors
and the media and will examine the role of public-private partnerships such as
the one between De Beers and the Government of Botswana.
The partnership is “not a panacea and we look forward to
exploring the lessons learnt and how these can be applied for the long-term
prosperity not only of Botswana, but also for the benefit of other
resource-rich nations around the globe,” said De Beers chief executive officer
Philippe Mellier.
De Beers’ partnership with Botswana generated more than $4
billion for the Botswanan economy, or 25 percent of gross domestic product
(GDP), in 2014, according to a report on the partnership’s impact set to be published
by the mining group. Moving De Beers’ sales business to Botswana contributed
more than $400 million to the country’s GDP, the company says.
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Tags:
Botswana, Chatham House, De Beers, development, Rapaport News, social responsibility
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