Swaziland in KP, Delegation Seeking Rough Sales to Israel

(IDEX Online News) – The small African kingdom of Swaziland is about to become a diamond producer once again and is considering how to approach this opportunity. As an old open-pit mine was recently re-commissioned, the kingdom took another important step and became a member of the Kimberley Process.

For the second time within a week, a high level delegation from Swaziland headed by Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Jabulile Mashwama visited the Israeli diamond center. The 10-member delegation also included MP Princess Ncengencenge, Chair of the Natural Resources Portfolio and Lindiwe Dlamini, Minister for Housing and Urban Development.

Minister Mashwama explained that she returned to Israel with additional government members in order to allow them an opportunity to meet with the leadership of the Israeli diamond industry, and to seek opportunities for rough trade between the two countries.

The delegation was hosted at the Israel Diamond Institute (IDI) by Avraham Traub, honorary president of the Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association (IsDMA), who congratulated them on Swaziland’s official acceptance into the Kimberley Process. “We are happy to see you as members of this important organization,” he said.

During their meeting, IDI's rough diamond consultant Chaim Even-Zohar spoke about the potential for rough diamond production when Swaziland reopens the Dokolwayo mine later this year. According to Even-Zohar, Swaziland's diamond production can reach up to 80,000 carats per year and that Dokolwayo can have a life of 10 – 50 years.