The diamond industry of Surat has offered to train youths from Zimbabwe in diamond cutting & polishing in exchange of assured rough diamond supplies from the African country.
The diamond industry of Surat has offered to train youths from Zimbabwe in diamond cutting & polishing in exchange of assured rough diamond supplies from the African country.
The issue was discussed at length during a meeting between representatives of Surat Rough Diamond Sourcing (India) Limited and a high-level delegation from Zimbabwe, led by mines minister Obert Mpofu. However, the two sides fell short of signing a formal Memorandum of Understanding.
The 8-member delegation from Zimbabwe arrived in Surat early on Thursday. The delegation visited diamond cutting & polishing factories, the Indian Diamond Institute, and also held meetings with diamond industry leaders.
Speaking at a meeting with SRDSL office bearers and industry representatives, the Zimbabwe minister, spoke about the large business prospects in Zimbabwe and invited diamond business to invest in mining sector in Zimbabwe.
"The diamond industry in Zimbabwe is poised to enter a new phase with discoveries of new diamond reserves. We are mining around 1.5 to 2 million carat rough every month, but this figure will go up. We also want to develop a strong diamond cutting & polishing industry, and look at India for help in becoming a major player in the industry," Mpofu said.
He also exuded confidence that the Kimberley Process would soon lift the restrictions on sale of Zimbabwe diamonds, and the country would be able to export rough diamonds.
Assuring SRDSL officials of all support and access to vast rough reserves of Zimbabwe, Mpofu also said that the money earned by sale of rough diamonds and other natural resources would be used for the betterment of people of Zimbabwe.
Attacking the western countries, the minister said, "The US and Europe are raising non-existent human rights issues with the help of NGOs and giving a bad name to Zimbabwe to prevent our diamonds from entering the market." SRDSL chairman, Ashit Mehta stressed on the mutual benefits of enhanced trade between Zimbabwe and Surat.
"Zimbabwe is a major producer of rough diamonds, while Surat is the hub of diamond cutting & polishing. A partnership between the two sides will be a win-win situation for both," he said.
SRDSL offered to train 1,000 Zimbabwean youths and to purchase $ 1.2 billion (Rs 5,400 crore) worth of rough diamonds annually from Zimbabwe. In fact, SRDSL wanted a MoU to be signed with the Zimbabwe minister, but it was felt that more discussions were needed before a formal MoU was signed.
The proposed MoU was handed over to the minister. Officials said that if things work out, the MoU may be signed during the upcoming visit of SRDSL promoters to Zimbabwe from October 20.
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