Angolan government-owned diamond firm Endiama is planning to hold the Angolan Diamond Centenary Conference in Luanda on June 20-21.
Speakers include Alrosa President and Chief Executive Officer Fyodor Andreev, World Diamond Council President Eli Izhakoff, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Executive Chairman Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council Chairman Vipul Shah, Kimberley Process monitor Abbey Chikane, Dubai Diamond Exchange Chairman Peter Meeus, Shanghai Diamond Exchange President Lin Qiang, Diamond Dealers Club of New York President Reuven Kaufman, and Mark Van Bockstael, the chair of the working group of diamond experts for the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
The chairman of Endiama, Carlos Sumbula, commented: “The conference aims to highlight the accomplishments of Angola in the diamond industry. At the same time it will emphasize the potential of Angola’s territory.
"The infrastructure investments made by the Angola government enabled a substantial reduction in operational costs of the mining production chain value. It will state the new Mining Law incentives for investors such as the reduction of tax burden on mining companies from 35 percent to 25 percent. At this Centenary Conference investors will be able to explore the dynamics and opportunities for the next decades of Angola’s diamond business,” he added.
Representatives from several African mining companies will address the meeting on the second day.
Diamonds are Angola's second-largest export sector after oil, with annual production of around eight million carats and sales of about $1.1 billion dollars.