Russia’s state-backed diamond miner Alrosa has announced plans to support the expansion of the country’s diamond-cutting and polishing sector as part of efforts to strengthen domestic value addition within the diamond supply chain.
The initiative focuses on developing cutting capacity in Smolensk, one of Russia’s key diamond-processing centres. According to company officials, the programme will include investments in manufacturing infrastructure, training programmes for skilled cutters and collaboration with regional authorities to support industry growth.
Alrosa CEO Pavel Marinychev recently held discussions with regional government representatives to explore measures aimed at expanding production capacity and strengthening workforce development in the sector. The discussions included initiatives to attract new specialists to the industry and enhance training systems for diamond processing.
The move reflects a broader effort by the Russian diamond industry to increase the share of rough diamonds processed domestically rather than exported for cutting abroad. Expanding the cutting sector could allow Russia to retain a larger portion of the value generated along the diamond pipeline.
Smolensk has historically been one of the country’s main centres for diamond cutting, hosting several manufacturing facilities linked to Alrosa’s rough supply. Industry participants expect that additional investment and training initiatives could help sustain operations and support employment in the region.
For Alrosa, which remains one of the world’s largest producers of rough diamonds, strengthening domestic manufacturing capacity also aligns with broader strategic goals to reinforce Russia’s internal diamond ecosystem amid shifting global trade dynamics.
The company has indicated that further cooperation between industry stakeholders, educational institutions and regional authorities will be key to ensuring long-term development of the country’s diamond-processing sector.
