Exploring The Diamond World of Botswana

Botswana is a country in the centre of Southern Africa. The territory is roughly triangular—approximately 600 miles (965 km) from north to south and 600 miles from east to west—with its eastern side protruding into a sharp point. Its eastern and southern borders are marked by river courses and an old wagon road; its western borders are lines of longitude and latitude through the Kalahari, and its northern borders combine straight lines with a river course. Within the confines of Botswana’s borders is a rich variety of wildlife, including many species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

Before its independence in 1966, Botswana was a British protectorate known as Bechuanaland. It was also one of the poorest and least-developed states in the world. Since its independence, the Republic of Botswana has gained international stature as a peaceful and increasingly prosperous democratic state.

Botswana has a free market economy with a strong tradition of central government planning to provide infrastructure for private investment. The economy has grown rapidly since the mid-1960s, with the gross domestic product per capita increased more than a hundredfold.

Botswana ranks among the world’s top producers of gem-quality diamonds. Diamonds are the major economic resource of the country. It is mined from some of the world’s oldest and largest of the four mines – Orapa (opened in 1971), Letlhakane, the second largest, which opened in 1975, Jwaneng (started operation in 1982) and Damtshaa, which opened in 2003 and Karowe, opened in 2012.4 are under DeBeers & Government partnership for further discoveries and active exploration.

The Diamond Hub under the Ministry of  Minerals, Green Technology and Energy Security was established to transform Botswana into a competitive diamond centre emphasizing rough and polished diamond trading and also to coordinate the development of diamond beneficiation industries; the Diamond Trading Company of Botswana (DTCB) has the capacity to value 45 million carats per year; the Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) sells up to 15% of Debswana’s diamond production to facilitate secondary rough trading; and the Minerals Development Company Botswana (MDCB) was established to manage GoB interests in mining companies and to seek out new investment opportunities. The De Beers Group relocated its diamond sorting and sales facility from the United Kingdom to Botswana.

Diamonds are the dominant mineral accounting for 41% of Government revenue, and 70% of total export earnings. Botswana is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, producing about 22% of global output. Botswana produced 25% of the global value of diamonds with sales of $3.9 billion.

The diamonds bought from Botswana create better living conditions, healthcare, water and food. Even though the unemployment rate is still high in Botswana, the diamond industry has helped create jobs, build schools and hospitals. The diamonds helped in overcoming the AIDS epidemic. The De Beers group partnered with UN Women to promote gender parity. This would ensure that a good number of women are appointed to leadership roles.  

India’s relations with Botswana have been traditionally close and friendly. India established diplomatic relations with Botswana immediately after its independence in 1966 and opened a resident Diplomatic Mission in Gaborone in 1987. Botswana established its resident Mission in New Delhi in 2006. The two nations have signed several agreements related to bilateral trade, taxation, cultural exchanges, and science and technology.  The primary commodity imported by India from Botswana is diamonds. Botswana’s large reserves of diamonds are of great interest to the Indian diamond industry, particularly in Surat. Surat is a major centre for cutting and polishing rough diamonds. In 2008, the Indian Diamond Institute signed an agreement with the Government of Botswana to establish an India-Africa Diamond Institute in the country. The institute will be staffed with Indian faculty who will teach courses on diamond cutting, polishing and grading along with jewellery manufacturing.

 

Indian firms like Finestar Diamonds Pvt Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary company of Finestar Jewellery and Diamonds Pvt Ltd, India. They are a Sight holder of the DeBeers Group of Companies, incorporated in Botswana in 2017. Finestar specialises in the manufacturing of polished diamonds ranging from 1.00 carat to 10.00 carats plus in all colors and clarity. The majority of the diamonds are 3EX. 

 

 

“We are currently located in Gaborone Block 3 Industrial, we intend to expand our business operations, therefore, planning to set up a bigger efficient, state of art and fully independent diamond cutting operations in Botswana at our plot in the Botswana Innovation Hub area. Our current workforce sits at 105+ and we intend to have 250-300 employees at our new premises. Our aim is to strengthen Botswana with knowledge and skills.” said Mr Nilesh Chhabria – COO of Finestar Jewellery & Diamond Pvt. Ltd.

 

 

Mr Rahul Desai (MD & CEO of IIG) has been appointed as the Executive Director of Finestar Educational Institute (Division of Santoktara Jain Charitable Trust). He says “As India has bilateral trade and friendly relations with Botswana, the students, experts in rough diamond grading and manufacturing and who are willing to migrate to Botswana, will have a golden opportunity to be successful in their careers.”

 

IIG educates practically about rough diamonds with 45 origin varieties of Rough Diamonds. IIG is one of the few institutes teaching the Rough Diamond Graduate Program. The students are prepped with complete knowledge of the workings of the rough diamonds industry. This course has been sought after by many students willing to relocate to Botswana. We also have students coming to IIG to learn about rough diamonds from Botswana and other South African countries.

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Author:- Charmi Soni Shroff  (CHRO – IIG)

Being a part of the Gems & Jewellery industry for the last 15 years I garnered insights into gems, diamonds and jewellery. I have authored a handbook on casting techniques and various blogs on various methods of healing and meditation with gemstones. Presently working with IIG Mumbai as a writer, author, external spokesperson and PR representative.

Photo Courtesy: Finestar Diamonds Pvt. Ltd.