In a significant milestone, Botswana’s presidency announced Thursday that the country has been added as a second center, in addition to Belgium, to verify the origin of rough diamonds meant for export to the Group of Seven leading industrialized countries.
According to the presidency, the big move came following “intensive” discussions with the G7 Diamond Technical Team as as President Duma Boko and Minister of Minerals Bogolo Kenewendo returned Thursday from a diamond conference in Brussels.
Kenewendo told state television that Botswana has a track record in verification and certification, under the Kimberley Process and added that diamond-producing countries such as Angola and Namibia should be recognized verifiers because they have prepared through the Kimberley Process.
The Kimberley Process is a trade regime that certifies rough diamond exports entering the global market.
Hans Merket Belgian-based diamond industry researcher highlighted that the addition of Botswana as a verification center will allow more flexibility.
Botswana’s export certification center is expected to be operational early next year.
