The Half-Yearly Diamond Production Review Meeting (BSPD) took place today, 19th August, at the Lueji A’nkonde University Campus in Dundo.

The meeting brought together representatives from the diamond sub-sector, senior managers from mining companies operating in Angola, experts, and religious and traditional authorities.

The event was attended by the Governor of Lunda Norte, Filomena Miza Aires, the Chairman of the Board of ENDIAMA, Ganga Júnior, as well as the company’s directors, Laureano Receado Paulo and Domingos Margarida.

In his opening remarks, Ganga Júnior highlighted the importance of the meeting in identifying solutions given the current situation in the global diamond market.

According to the executive, the industry is heading into the third year of an unprecedented crisis, exacerbated by the rise of synthetic diamonds.

“We decided to organise this meeting to see if we can do better in this particularly difficult context,” said Ganga Júnior, emphasising that Angola has consolidated its position as the world’s third-largest diamond producer.

The Chairman of ENDIAMA also highlighted the efforts made to prevent company closures and the resulting job losses, due to the pressure the industry has been facing.

For her part, the Governor of Lunda Norte described the hosting of the BSPD in the province as a source of pride and highlighted the contribution of the diamond sub-sector to community development. She praised the role of ENDIAMA and its partner companies in the area of social responsibility, citing as an example the recent opening of the Mussungue Care Home for the Elderly.

The Governor reiterated the Provincial Government’s willingness to continue working with ENDIAMA, partners and other institutions, with a view to creating a favourable environment for investment, sustainability and security.

During the programme, Flávio Francisco, on behalf of the Brilhante Foundation, presented the approach to investment in social responsibility within the diamond sub-sector for the period between 2024 and 2026.

Sérgio dos Santos, the head of ENDIAGRO, also presented the strategy of that ENDIAMA Group subsidiary, entitled “Transforming Eastern Angola into a diversified agricultural powerhouse”, an ambition he described as “legitimate and genuine”, judging by the region’s potential and past successes.

The Half-Yearly Diamond Production Review continues tomorrow, with further sessions of analysis and reflection on the present and future of the national diamond sub-sector.