JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The importance of regional integration within the Southern African Development Community as a means to advance the region’s diamonds industry was a recurring topic at the South African Diamond Indaba, held in Midrand earlier this week, with industry stalwarts, such as De Beers Consolidated Mines CEO Phillip Barton, highlighting the benefits.

“Opportunities for growth within our industry will not be possible if we, as industry players, do not work together through partnerships. If we do not engage as a region, we are at risk of a missed opportunity that might lead to regional competition, to the detriment of our industry.

“Whether we are regulators, producers, cutters and polishers or jewellery manufacturers, until we recognise and increase our interdependency as partners, we will never get our local diamond industry back on its feet,” he warned.

State Diamond Trader (SDT) CEO Futhi Mvelase echoed Barton’s sentiments, adding that the region could benefit from collaboration with other diamond producing countries.

She added that innovation also needed to be sharpened, with South Africa needing to focus on small diamonds and its capacity to manufacture a broader range of diamonds than it currently does.

“We have the technology to focus on this,” she said, adding that the country was “the best place” to build an international trading centre; however, she noted that the country’s “deep-rooted” problems needed to be dealt with first.

She added that the SDT would continue to tackle issues such as taxation and regulation to propel growth.

During a panel discussion also held at the indaba, other industry stakeholders, including Department of Mineral Resources beneficiation economics director Kagiso Menoe, said regional cooperation was very important.

Menoe said government needed to discuss how it could leverage its Association of African Diamond Producers membership to ensure the country and the continent benefit from the diamond industry.