Tanzania calls for a united stance in protecting the market of natural diamond

FREETOWN: TANZANIA has called on the African Diamond Producing Association (ADPA) to take a united stance in protecting the natural diamond market against the increase in lab-grown diamonds that have continued to affect the value and credibility of the global diamond market.

The call was made by the Deputy Minister for Minerals, Dr Steven Kiruswa, while speaking at the ADPA Council of Ministers meeting held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where the leaders discussed various issues of development of the diamond sector in Africa as well as the challenges facing the sector globally.

Dr Kiruswa said it is important to put in place effective communication and marketing strategies to increase consumer understanding of the differences between natural and lab-grown diamonds while protecting the authenticity, value and contribution of natural diamonds to the economies of the countries that produce these minerals.

He also stressed the importance of African countries working together to have joint strategies to ensure that minerals are added value within the African continent in order to gain more benefits from the presence of these resources in African countries.

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The meeting adopted various proposals including strengthening the correct use of international characteristics that will clearly distinguish natural and synthetic diamonds, as well as encouraging international diamond trade institutions to support these efforts for the benefit of the diamond sector in Africa.

In addition, the countries agreed to strengthen the unity to address the challenges of the global diamond trade.