Angola Committed to Highest Levels of Diamond Business Compliance, Says President
June 23, 13
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He also said the country had an "open attitude to foreign investment" in a message to African mining ministers and world diamond leaders.
President dos Santos received a top delegation of diamond producing countries and industry leaders at the Presidential Palace on the second day of the conference organized by state-owned diamond firm Endiama to mark the occasion of the discovery 100 years ago of the first diamond deposits in the country.
The delegation included the ministers of mines of South Africa and Namibia, Susan Shabangu and Isak Katali respectively, Kimberley Process Chair Ambassador Welile Nhlapo, World Diamond Council President Eli Izhakoff, Alrosa President Fyodor Andreev, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Executive Chairman Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Angola's Minister of Geology and Mines Francisco Queiroz, and Endiama Chairman Carlos Sumbula.
The President assured the delegation that no violation of human rights linked to diamond exploitation would be allowed, according to a statement.
He also underlined Angola's open attitude towards foreign investment and a favorable tax regime for diamond companies of 25 percent.
Angola is keen to encourage foreign investors to help develop huge potential diamond reserves.
KP Chair Nhlapo said: "The assurances given by President dos Santos are the best possible witness of Angola's strong commitment to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS)."
Meanwhile, Izhakoff commented: "Angola was one of the first countries involved in the establishment of the KPCS and its continuous support is essential for the credibility of our unique supply control mechanism, probably the best in the whole commodities world."
Bin Sulayem said Angola's open economic policy is "already a model for African growth and prosperity".
"As a logistical hub we look forward to an even stronger cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Angola in the next years to come.”