Botswana Mining Review Comprehensive Coverage of the Progress and Achievements in the Mining Sector
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The value of a diamond extends well beyond its price on the international market. In Botswana, the drive to retain more value from the country’s diamond resources is increasingly being measured through jobs, specialised skills, citizen-owned businesses and the growth of downstream industries. These outcomes were in focus during a recent visit by the Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) Board of Directors to KGK Diamonds Botswana.
The visit offered the Board an opportunity to examine how diamond beneficiation is being translated into industrial activity and wider economic participation. Operating in Botswana for more than a decade, KGK has developed a vertically integrated operation spanning diamond cutting and polishing, as well as jewellery manufacturing.
With approximately 480 employees, predominantly Batswana, the company represents an important part of the country’s downstream diamond industry, demonstrating how local processing can extend economic activity beyond the extraction and sale of rough stones. The operation’s contribution also extends to environmental management and workforce development. KGK has incorporated environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into its activities through initiatives including rainwater harvesting, solar energy integration and investment in skills development.
A particular focus of the Board’s visit was the KGK Diamond Training Academy, which equips young people with specialised skills required by the diamond industry. The company also provides employment opportunities for people who are deaf and supports working families through an on-site daycare and nursery school. Its incubation programme further seeks to widen participation in the diamond value chain by supporting citizen-owned enterprises and aspiring diamantaires. Such initiatives are significant to Botswana’s beneficiation ambitions, which depend on building domestic capabilities and creating opportunities for local businesses to participate in the industry.
The visit highlighted the importance of collaboration between diamond producers, manufacturers and marketers in developing a more diversified domestic value chain. While cutting, polishing and jewellery manufacturing retain additional activity within the country, investments in training, entrepreneurship and inclusive employment can broaden the sector’s contribution to economic development.
This engagement provided first-hand insight into the role downstream businesses can play in advancing Botswana’s diamond industry and strengthening the economic benefits derived from its natural resources. The company thanked KGK’s management team for hosting the delegation and sharing insights into its operations and contribution to Botswana’s diamond sector.
