Botswana is more committed than ever to its long-standing relationship with De Beers and will take all necessary steps to refresh and enhance the partnership.
President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi emphasized this commitment at the JCK Diamond Show in Nevada, USA, at the De Beers stall on Friday.
His reassurances come amid Anglo American's decision to sell its 85 percent stake in De Beers, compared to the Botswana governments 15 percent stake. President Masisi stated that the impending demerger should not cause concern about the future. "We as a country are determined to ensure we add value, become more influential, and assure those who buy our diamonds that they are clean gems," he said, reaffirming Botswanas dedication to its relationship with De Beers and all its trading partners.
Earlier, Mr. Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, spoke about the strong relationship between the world-leading diamond company, with its unparalleled expertise in exploration, mining, and marketing of rough diamonds since 1888, and Botswana. He particularly praised President Masisi for his care and vision for the welfare of Batswana in his role as head of state, especially in the context of diamond mining.
Mr. Cook expressed De Beers' satisfaction with having Botswana as a partner. He assured that De Beers prioritizes having the finest mines, including the underground project at the Jwaneng mine in Botswana. He also announced a technological breakthrough that can distinguish between lab-grown diamonds and natural gems in just half a minutea development warmly embraced by the Botswana government, which opposes synthetic diamonds.
