IDMA to host Diamond Beneficiation Pitso

The upcoming International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) Presidents’ Meeting, slated between April 4-7, will host a special segment - Diamond Beneficiation Pitso (Pisto in local language means a stakeholders round table) to arrive at ‘measures and policies which will potentially generate the greatest domestic added value and opportunities through diamond beneficiation for the people of Botswana’. It will be co-hosted by the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA), the Botswana Diamond Hub, IDMA and the Botswana Diamond Manufacturers Association (BDMA), on April 4. The main participants at the Pitso include: His Honor, the Acting Vice President of the Republic of Botswana, Dr PHK Kedikilwe; the DTC's International CEO, Mrs. Varda Shine; the ex-Deputy Governor of the Bank of Botswana, Dr. Keith Jefferis; BIDPA Managing Director, Dr. Tebogo Seleka; BIDPA Professor Roman Grynberg; amongst other dignitaries including government officials and Botswana business leaders, professionals involved in diamond beneficiation, opinion-makers and policy-makers, as well as a group of foreign diamond manufacturers.

The Pitso will be co-moderated by Miss Letsema Mbayi, a researcher and doctoral student who has worked for the World Bank as a consultant on diamond development policies and skills competitiveness, together with the international industry consultant and commentator Chaim Even-Zohar. Moti Ganz, president of the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA), hoped discussions would be ‘frank and passionate’ and added that "One of the specific topics I hope that we will discuss in Gaborone is how beneficiation can become a good business model in the diamond supply pipeline and how it can be sustained economically on the long term, serving the interests of all parties involved." IDMA’s Presidents’ Meeting is slated between April 4-7, at the Grand Palm Casino and Convention Resort, Gaborone, Botswana.