IDEX Online Poll: Strong Opinions on SA Manufacturing Initiatives
November 17, 05
Should Southern African countries actively support local diamond and jewelry manufacturing, or should their governments avoid intervening in free market commerce? Will historic justice be achieved by beneficiation efforts that limit rough diamond exports?
According to IDEX Online’s latest poll, opinions on this issue are polarized. 27 percent of respondents reacted ‘In favor’ to the statement “
However, 44 percent said ‘Let free market reign’. Between these two extremes were three other options that were hardly selected by respondents. 8 percent answered “Might work with bigger goods”, 10 percent replied “Yes to polishing, but jewelry?”
“It is simply not economical” was the answer of the remaining 11 percent.
The market, it seems tends to reject government intervention, as could have been suspected, with 55 percent voicing a negative opinion to it and 45 percent expressing at least some support for African manufacturing efforts.
Please join us this week and head to the other end of the industry – retailing, as we ask about the most popular price point of jewelry sales.