Direct partnership is how Angola’s state-owned diamond producer Endiama is looking at trading with India. It has decided to set up an office in Mumbai in 2008 to directly sell diamonds within India’s diamond city, reports The Financial Express.

The Indian minister of state for commerce Jairam Ramesh was on a six-day trade visit to Namibia and Angola, to promote direct interaction and trade partnerships. Endiama’s delegation will visit Mumbai to analyse the prospects for an office. Also Angola’s President Jose Eduardo dos Santos will be the chief guest at the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council’s (GJEPC) flagship event ‘Mines-to-Market’ in Mumbai in March 2009.

India has extended its partnership by offering to be the partner country at the World Diamond Summit scheduled for Lunada in 2009. GJEPC’s firm Diamond India Ltd.,plans to set up diamond and jewellery manufacturing facilities in Namibia and will hold negotiations with Endiama in this regard.

Endiama also intends to form joint ventures with the Tata Group to manufacture commercial vehicles and helicopters in India.