2nd Zimbabwe Diamond Conference slated in November

The second edition of the Zimbabwe Diamond Conference is being organised by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development of the Republic of Zimbabwe in November 2014, between 6-7 in Harare.

The event is expected to attract a gathering of dignitaries from leading African diamond producing countries and delegates from world leading diamond traders, manufacturers, financiers and jewellers. Honourable Minister Walter K. Chidakwa (M.P.) will play host and address the audience on behalf of the Zimbabwe government.

Zimbabwe is the third largest diamond-producing nation in the world in amount of carats. According to the Kimberley Process report, Zimbabwe produced 12,060,161.70 cts in 2012 with a value of US$ 644,033,522.30. The Honourable Permanent Secretary Prof. Francis Gudyanga said: “Since being accepted again as a full member of the KPCS in 2011, Zimbabwe made a lot of progress in the diamond industry. By organizing this conference, we would like to highlight these accomplishments. Zimbabwe found its place again in the industry!”

The government of Zimbabwe is currently in the process of optimizing its revenues from diamond sales by organizing different tenders. The first rough diamond tender was held in December 2013, in Antwerp, with revenues worth US$10,5 million generated from the sale of 279,723 carats. A second Antwerp tender in February 2014 brought in US$70 million from 959,931 carats. In March 2014, a diamond tender in Dubai raised US$29,3 million from the sale of 380,626.24 carats.