(PRESS RELEASE) Natural Diamond Council launches a new flagship report – Diamonds of Botswana.
We continue our report series with an immersion into the second-largest diamond producer in the world. The in-depth analysis shares key figures and details on how natural diamonds have underpinned Botswana’s rise from the third-poorest country in the world to a vibrant, middle-income country. Today, Botswana is home to many skilled workers whose families benefit from largely free education, universal healthcare and paved roads as well as game parks and protected lands for Botswana’s wildlife.
Natural diamonds make up a third of Botswana’s fiscal revenue, 80% of its exports, and account for a quarter of the country’s GDP.
The report further shares how the diamond industry remains a force for good in Botswana, set up to deliver long-term, sustainable prosperity, facilitated by fair governments and collaborative, community-minded partners.
Key Highlights of the Diamonds of BotswanaReport
- Economy and Infrastructure: 80% of diamond-related revenue is re-invested into Botswana through the development of transport and paved roads, energy and water infrastructure and more. Over 10K jobs outside of diamond mining have been supported through the De Beers Group-backed Tokafala program.
- Education: 100% of primary-age children are now entitled to free, state-provided education. In fact, almost 90K pupils were enrolled in secondary education in 2022, compared to just 100 in 1966.
- Empowering Girls and Women: The diamond industry in Botswana seeks to empower girls and women through access to female sanitary needs so they don’t miss school as well as specialty programs like Debswana STEM Girls and the UN Women and De Beers Group micro-entrepreneur initiative AWOME.
- Healthcare: De Beers Group Botswana was the first to offer free, corporate HIV testing and treatment program in the world and have helped build brand new hospitals in the country.
- Environmental Protections: Over 300 species thrive at Orapa Game Park and is one of two of Debswana’s protected game sites.
This report was made possible with the kind support of Aurostar and key contributions from the Government of the Republic of Botswana, De Beers Group, Debswana, Okavango Diamond Company, Lucara Botswana, Botswana Manufacturers Association, KGK Group, and Venus Jewel.
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