Emirates to fly to Botswana
DMCC commits in marketing, selling Botswana diamonds Okavango Diamond Company shines on its Expo 2020 day
United Arab Emirates ( UAE) Airline will soon fly to Botswana either running commercial or cargo flights, Botswana Guardian has reliably learned.
This is news from Botswana’s participation at the ongoing world acclaimed Expo 2020 Dubai. The assurance was made by Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Multi Commodities Centre ( DMCC) Ahmed Bin Sulayem.
He was welcoming guests at a networking event in honour of Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology & Energy Security, Lefhoko Moagi at the ceremony marking the opening of the Okavango Diamond Company ( ODC) Diamond Viewing at the Dubai Diamond Exchange.
Sulayem said it is not coincidence that two years after they flew to Angola in 2007, Emirates started having direct flights.
“I am hoping for Emirates to have direct flights to Botswana or at the very least to have Emirates Cargo flying there directly,” he said. He said
Botswana was one of the key markets that they are considering to set up the DMCC. BITC Chief Executive Officer Kelotsoitsi Olebile told investors that speed is of essence to his organisation. “Speak to us to facilitate you to establish in Botswana,” he said. He said it is important for investors to know BITC as Botswana’s investment agency that will assist them should they have immediate and future investment interest in Botswana. He revealed that some diamond companies have expressed interest in setting up in Botswana at the Expo. “As we are here in Dubai to participate in the Expo 2020, we have already registered a good number, and are happy to announce that we actually facilitated some of them with among other things factory space,” Olebile said, adding that BITC is also able to facilitate land allocations, and process work and resident permits for investors coming into the country. “I am aware of the number of other companies that are lining up to set up in Botswana and you would all understand that we are in business, and in business we work with targets and key objectives. We are here to commit that we would like to facilitate you to firmly establish on the ground by February 2022,” he said confidently. Managing Director of ODC, Mmetla Masire said his company is one of the top 10 of the largest rough trading companies in the world.
He said their natural diamonds are mined by Debswana, one of the largest diamond mining companies in the world. “Since our inception in 2013, we have quickly emerged as one of the leading, global suppliers of responsibly sourced natural diamonds. “We offer our customers the largest supply of natural rough diamonds exclusively of Botswana origin, not aggregated”.
ODC has survived through several market downturns. However, nothing could have prepared them for Covid pandemic. “2020 was a chaotic year for the global economies, and Botswana like the rest of the world was adversely affected.
“As one of the largest producer countries of diamonds by value, we were hit hard. With the aviation sector, being crippled because of international travel restrictions and reduced passenger demand, this had a direct impact on the Botswana diamond industry as we could not host diamond sales.
“We like many in the industry experienced a drop in revenue, given the cancellations of several of our sales and given the difficult year the global industry had experienced”. Masire added that many international diamond buyers were unable to travel and companies in the diamond sector resorted to selling online and holding viewings of diamond production in diamond trade centres that had the appetite and were still open for business such as Dubai, Antwerp and India. He said things got worse during the temporary closure of mines and retailers among other things.
“But when the COVID- 19 crisis hit India severely, it made us realise that the pandemic had completely changed the business landscape. The impact of COVID- 19 on the diamond trade required that we think outside the box if we are to not only survive but to strive”. He said at the heart of their business, they follow the continuous improvement philosophy, and are always looking for new ideas and ways to do things better. “We recognise the important role the DMCC/ DDE can and should fulfil in achieving our vision to be a world leader in the sales and marketing of natural diamonds.
“We are excited by the journey ahead and feel privileged to have the DMCC/ DDE play a part in this important phase in the development of ODC and the Botswana’s diamond industry”.
ODC, he added, recognises the importance of partnerships, not only with their customers, but also with their service providers. “Working together with the right partners, who share our values and goals, is critical if we are to build the reputation and standing that we seek in the global market”.