Angola quer criar sector joalheiro e aposta na Vice-Presidência do Kimberley Process

Stand da de Grisogono na Baselworld 2013

Angola pretende desenvolver a sua indústria diamantífera para além da ineração, da lapidação e do polimento, criando um sector joalheiro significativo, disse Francisco Queiroz, ministro da Geologia e Minas daquele país na Angola Centenary Diamond Conference.

Capitais angolanos compraram em 2012 a de Grisogono, companhia suíça de alta relojoaria e joalharia, como Estação Cronográfica anunciou, e isso já estará no âmbito da estratégia anunciada agora pelo ministro.

Por outro lado, Angola pretende para 2014 a Vice-Presidência do Kimberley Process, o organismo internacional que combate os chamados "diamantes de sangue", certificando as pedras que são exploradas apenas fora de zonas de conflito.

As notícias do Internationl Diamond Exchange:

Angola intends to develop its diamond industry beyond mining to cutting and polishing stones and creating a large jewelry manufacturing sector, Geology and Mines Minister Francisco Queiroz told the Angola Centenary Diamond Conference.

"The government believes the diamond industry can play a large role in the economic development of the country by providing employment and contributing further funds to the government through taxes and royalties," he said.

The country is believed to have 1,000 diamond areas but has just three mines, including the Catoca mine which produces 87 percent of Angola's diamonds, he said. As a result, the country would like to enter into cooperation agreements with foreign and domestic investors to develop the sector.

State-owned diamond company Endiama is playing a major role in revitalizing the country's diamond industry from exploration to the polishing and trading of diamonds and the creation of a national jewelry industry, Queiroz told the conference which is being organized by Endiama to celebrate 100 years since the discovery of diamonds in the country.

Queiroz said the government is actively involved in eradicating illegal mining in the country, while also promoting artisanal mining in line with Kimberley Process (KP) standards.

Queiroz said his ministry was updating its cooperation in the diamond mining sector with other diamond-producing states in Southern Africa.

Echoing comments made earlier at the conference by the country's vice president, Manuel Domingos Vicente, Queiroz said Angola would like to be the KP vice chair in 2014.

"We have been working closely with the KP since it was established, and we would like the support of the international community to be vice chair next year," Queiroz said.

Among the other speakers on the first day of the two-day conference are Alrosa President and CEO Fyodor Andreev, KP Chair Welile Nhlapo, and World Diamond Council President Eli Izhakoff.

Candidatura à Vice-Presidência do Kimberley Process

Angola is seeking to be appointed as vice-chair of the Kimberley Process (KP) for 2014, Angolan vice-president Manuel Domingos Vicente told The Angola Centenary Diamond Conference at the official opening today (Thursday).

In a later press statement, Endiama said the decision regarding the next KP vice-chair will be taken during the next KPCS Plenary in Johannesburg in December under the Chair of South Africa. The Chair of the KPCS in 2014 will be China. If Angola is appointed vice-chair, it would take over as Chair of the KP in 2015.

Angola chairs the important position of the Working Group of Artisanal and Alluvial Producers (WGAAP).

Paulo M'Vika, Chair of the WGAAP said: “As an important producer we have been instrumental in the Washington Declaration aimed to improve the situation of artisanal miners on our continent. The Washington Declaration was a welcome complement to the earlier Moscow Declaration. We are ready as a Vice Chair to take up an even more engaging role in the future.”

During his speech, Vicente said that during that diamonds were widely used to finance the country's 1975-2002 civil war, but with the end of the internecine conflict the government has made great efforts to ensure the eradication of conflict diamonds.

He said the government also aimed to eradicate illegal mining in the country and encourage artisanal mining.

Domingos Vicente said the country's diamond industry has a high priority in Angola's long-term economic strategy through to 2025. The objectives of the economic plan are to bring added value to the national economy, contribute to its diversification and play a part in the sustainable development of the economy.

He also said that as part of the country's medium-term development plan, a large-scale geological mapping exercise is taking place to determine possible diamond areas.

Endiama Chairman and CEO Antonio Carlos Sumbula said that following the discovery of diamonds in the country 100 years ago it has become the fifth largest diamond producer in the world and the third largest in Africa.