A DELEGATION from India is set to visit the Zimbabwe Technology Diamond Centre (ZTDC) to view the facilities as the country readies for a local diamond auction next month.
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The visit by the Indian delegation comes when the first diamond polishing and cutting board was launched yesterday.
“The country did not have equipment as the diamond sector.We have a huge import bill including of those things that we can manufacture as a country.This is a first step in a positive way that will encourage growth in the industry of high trade,” ZTDC chairman Lovemore Kurotwi said yesterday.
The board, the first to be produced locally, was made by the Harare Polytechnic.
If imported, the board costs $5 000 each.
Kurotwi said the ZDC will have 500 factories, 240 cutters and 120 boards.
Kurotwi said the centre will accommodate the corporate world and all companies that have relevance in the diamond centre.Kurotwi said ZDC was ready to be an auction floor and can accommodate 38 companies.
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“We can attract so many people to view our diamonds, the more people the more sales you will get,” he said.
Zimbabwe has been selling its diamonds in Dubai and at the Antwerp World Diamond Centre ahead of the local auction.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will be hosting the first diamond conference to be held under the theme ‘Completing Zimbabwe’s diamond potential for the future.’
The conference speakers include South Africa Minister of Mineral Resources Ngoako Ramatlhodi, Democratic Republic of Congo Minister of Mining Martn Kabwelulu Labilo, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority executive chairman Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Endiama president Carlos Sumbula, Namibia Minister of Mines and Energy Isak Katali, Mbada Diamond chairman Robert Mhlanga, World Diamond Centre president Eli Izhakoff among others.
