Brilliant future for Namibian diamonds
Namdia intends to become the world’s supplier of choice for ethically sourced high-quality diamonds
Two things make Namibian diamonds among the world’s most desirable, says Kennedy Hamutenya, CEO of Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia), the marketing and sales company that is creating a sustainable market for these unique stones.
“Firstly, almost 98 percent of them are gem quality and, secondly, their naturally polished and round shapes make them easier to cut to accentuate the high-quality brilliance that shines out of them. They are the Lamborghinis of the diamond world,” he states. A further attraction is that Namibian diamonds are conflict-free—the country is seen as a model of good governance within the industry and it pioneered the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for rough diamonds.
Namibian diamonds’ unique qualities and disproportionately high value have made them increasingly sought after. “Unfortunately, access to these precious gems was limited until Namdia was set up in 2016,” notes Hamutenya.
The government established the company to create a Namibian footprint in the international downstream diamond market and to help develop a sustainable national industry that adds value to the country’s natural resources and builds socio-economic growth. To ensure the new venture’s success, the company appointed Hamutenya as CEO, a man who studied at the Colorado School of Mines in the U.S. and has worked in the Namibian mineral sector, mostly with diamonds, for nearly 25 years.
The strategy has worked. “For the past two years, we have made handsome profits for the government, and have paid tens of millions of dollars in taxes and dividends for the benefit of all Namibia’s people,” he states. Part of the reason for this accomplishment, Hamutenya believes, is Namdia’s highly skilled staff who are, “as technically competent and advanced as any you would find in Antwerp or Tel Aviv.”
In addition, the company uses the latest technology at its state-of-the-art headquarters, he says: “This enables us to take our understanding of our product to another level and to price our prized product competitively.” International clients agree that Namdia’s pricing is competitive, with a call for bids from prospective new clients in October 2018 attracting 74 applications from all over the world.
To add even more value to Namibia’s diamonds, the company is in the process of acquiring its own diamond cutting and polishing factory. It is also considering entering the jewelry business soon, by forging partnerships with established brands as a way of quickly developing the Namibian brand.
“Namdia is aiming to be the leading supplier of ethically sourced high-quality gem diamonds to discerning consumers,” explains Hamutenya; “We will be a brand of choice for diamond lovers worldwide sooner rather than later—watch this space!”