Leviev Plans New Angolan Diamond Plant

Israeli diamond magnate Lev Leviev is planning to establish a new diamond cutting and polishing factory in Angola. Leviev's LLD factory in Botswana is currently training 40 Angolans in diamond cutting and polishing and they will serve as the ‘skeleton crew’ at the new Angolan factory.

The Namibia Economist cited Eli Nefussy, director of Lev Leviev Diamond (LLD) and Samicor, and chief financial manager of Lev Leviev's group in Namibia, as saying that new diamond cutting and polishing factories will be opened soon in Angola and Botswana.

LLD opened a cutting and polishing factory in Windhoek, Namibia nine months ago where 500 trainees cut and polish 4,000 carats per month and exports about N$4million ($640,000) worth of diamonds per month.

The plant's new CEO, Kombandayedu Kapwanga said he was aiming to increase exports to between N$5 million and N$6 million ($800,000-$960,000) per month.