As the diamond industry continues to adapt to growing demands for transparency and traceability, Angola is steadily emerging as one of the more closely watched sourcing destinations in the natural diamond sector. For manufacturers and retailers seeking verifiable provenance, the country’s evolving infrastructure and policy framework are creating new opportunities across the value chain.
Among the companies that recognized this potential early is KGK Group. While much of the global trade remained focused on more established diamond-producing regions, the Indian diamond manufacturer entered Angola in 2019 and began building a long-term manufacturing presence in the country.
Seven years later, that decision appears to be entering a new phase. Speaking at the Angola Diamond Industry Panel 2026, KGK outlined plans to expand its operations in Saurimo, reinforcing a strategy centred on local manufacturing, workforce development and proximity to source.
The company’s experience also offers insight into how Angola is positioning itself within a global market increasingly shaped by responsible sourcing requirements.
KGK initially established operations in Luanda before relocating its primary manufacturing activities to Saurimo, the capital of Lunda Sul province and one of Angola’s most important diamond-producing regions.
According to KGK representative Sandeep, the decision to deepen the company’s involvement in Angola was influenced by the willingness of government stakeholders to engage directly with industry participants.
The minister’s enthusiasm at Cape Town Indaba was the initial motivator. There were teething challenges, but Angola’s collaborative approach to problem-solving made the differenceSandeep Kothari, KGK Group
The move reflected a broader commitment to beneficiation within Angola rather than limiting activity to rough diamond trading or sourcing.
Today, KGK operates two manufacturing facilities in Saurimo and employs close to 500 people. Between 70% and 75% of the workforce consists of Angolan nationals who have been trained by instructors brought in from India.
The facilities currently process approximately 10,000-11,000 carats per month, making them among the more significant manufacturing operations established by an Indian company in the country.
The focus on training and employment aligns with Angola’s wider objective of increasing local participation in the diamond value chain and retaining more economic value within the country through downstream activities.
For Indian manufacturers evaluating future sourcing and manufacturing opportunities, the KGK model demonstrates how beneficiation programmes can be integrated with workforce development and production expansion.
Beyond manufacturing, Angola’s strongest proposition may be its growing reputation for traceability.
During the panel discussion, government representative Miguel stated that approximately 90% of the country’s diamond production can be traced directly to the mine of origin rather than only the country level. He also noted that Angola does not operate with mixed-origin diamond batches, allowing diamonds to maintain documented provenance throughout the supply chain.
This distinction is becoming increasingly relevant as retailers and consumers seek greater transparency regarding the origin of natural diamonds.
Angola has also strengthened its responsible sourcing credentials through membership in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), ISO certification at its newest major mining operation and the deployment of blockchain-based traceability solutions.
In parallel, solar energy infrastructure has been developed within key diamond-producing regions, funded through revenues generated by the diamond sector.
The country’s progress is also attracting attention from downstream retail businesses.
Alison Charlo, Vice President of Responsible Sourcing at Brilliant Earth, described how the retailer’s engagement with Angola accelerated after gaining greater access to certifications, provenance documentation and traceability systems.
According to Charlo, the industry’s ability to provide documented sourcing information and blockchain-backed traceability helped build confidence in Angolan-origin diamonds.
The result was the launch of Brilliant Earth’s “Pathway to Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds” collection at JCK 2025, featuring diamonds sourced from Angola with documented provenance.
For a retailer whose brand positioning is closely linked to responsible sourcing, the collection represented a notable endorsement of Angola’s evolving supply chain framework.
KGK’s next objective is clear: the company plans to double production capacity at its Saurimo operations within the next two years.
At the same time, Angola’s government is pursuing measures intended to support long-term diamond value, including a planned reduction in small-stone supply volumes over the coming months.
Taken together, these developments highlight a broader shift taking place within the natural diamond sector. As traceability becomes a commercial requirement rather than a niche differentiator, sourcing destinations capable of providing documented provenance are likely to attract greater attention from manufacturers, brands and retailers.
For the Indian trade, Angola’s story is no longer simply about rough diamond production. Increasingly, it is becoming a case study in how mining, manufacturing, traceability and responsible sourcing can be aligned within a single supply chain — and why companies such as KGK are choosing to expand their presence there.