Namibia's Minister of Mines and Energy, Isak Katali is appointed to the Board of Directors of the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE). The DDE views his appointment to help strengthen its efforts considering Africa, in establishing collaboration between producing countries and consuming countries in Asia, along the New Silk Route, reports say.

Honourable Minister Katali was appointed a non-voting member of Namibia's National Assembly (NA) in 2000 and immediately appointed Deputy Minister of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation. He has served as Regional Secretary of the Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu), and also as Deputy National Research Coordinator for Southern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality.

The DDE Board of Directors has seen the inclusion of Prof. Francis Pedzana Gudyanga, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development of the Republic of Zimbabwe; Levy Rapoo, CEO of the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator (SADPMR); and Dr. Robert Mhlanga, Chairman of Mbada Diamonds (Pvt) Limited. The DDE is endeavouring towards growing Dubai into a key global diamond trading hub, reports say.