Zimbabwe Signs Deal For Polishing Equipment With Indian Firm
January 07, 15
(IDEX Online News) – The Zimbabwe Diamond Technology Centre has signed a multi-million dollar deal with Indian company Sahajanand Laser Technology Limited for the supply of state-of-the-art diamond cutting and polishing equipment.
Zimbabwe Diamond Technology Centre Chairman Lovemore Kurotwi said the deal was aimed at the speedy implementation of the country's economic plan Zim-Asset which prioritizes beneficiation of minerals locally.
The equipment is expected in the country before the end of January, The Herald newspaper reported.
"Cutting and polishing of diamond is now scientific and the equipment that we are getting from India is a total solution to beneficiation of our diamonds," he said.
"As a country, we will now know how much we are going to make before cutting and polishing our diamonds," he said. "The new equipment will enable us to cut and polish all diamonds mined in this country before marketing."
The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India has invited officials from the Zimbabwe Diamond Technology Centre to visit the state at the start of next month where it will show its diamond polishing and jewelry products.
"For us it is a learning process to see how others are doing in the diamond industry," Kurotwi said.
Recently, the executive head of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Professor Arun Kulshreshtha advised Zimbabwe to stop exporting rough diamonds as the country could add value to its precious stones by polishing them domestically.