In a significant development for the diamond industry, Okavango, Botswana’s government-owned rough diamond marketing entity, has recently become a member of the Natural Diamond Council (NDC).
As the first non-mining diamond company to gain admission to the US-based not-for-profit organization, which advocates for natural diamonds, this move marks a notable milestone.
Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) is responsible for the sale of over 6 million carats annually, exclusively procured from Debswana, a collaborative venture evenly shared between the government and De Beers.
According to a statement from the council, Okavango’s inclusion underscores its pivotal role in the upstream distribution of natural diamonds. Moreover, it highlights Botswana’s commitment to stimulating consumer demand as a catalyst for its diamond industry’s prosperity.
David Kellie, CEO of NDC, remarked, “Botswana stands at the forefront of establishing benchmarks for the sustainable management of its natural assets.”
He added, “The membership of Okavango Diamond Company in NDC offers us a platform to disseminate the narrative of Botswana’s natural diamond sector on a global scale.”