•To contribute 64% of funding for three years
•KP Secretariat officially launched in Botswana
The government will cover the operational costs of the Kimberley Process (KP) Secretariat Office, which is headquartered in Botswana, according to Minerals and Energy Minister Lefoko Moagi. Botswana will contribute up to 64 percent of the funding for three consecutive financial years to support the office’s operations.
The KP processing has established a strategic office in Botswana, one of the world’s leading producers of diamonds. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is primarily based on national certification schemes and internationally agreed minimum standards to verify the origin of diamonds. These standards regulate participation and compliance with the scheme.
Moagi stated that Botswana bid to support the office both in kind and financially, committing to provide a fully furnished office and its maintenance for the first three years of operation. As a founding member of the KP, he explained that Botswana was motivated to host the Secretariat due to the significant role that diamonds play in the country’s economy and development.
In addition, the minerals minister emphasised Botswana’s goal to improve the efficiency of its implementation of the KP and contribute to its evolution to remain relevant in the dynamic global diamond trading market. Moagi asserted that it is fitting for Botswana to host the KP Secretariat to demonstrate its status as a leading producer of diamonds by value in the world.
He expressed the aspiration for Botswana’s name to be recognised in the diamond industry for its excellence, stating, “I want to believe that in the KP, we have an international organisation that will accompany us on our journey to elevate this nation to a high-income status.”
“Our interest lies in preserving the integrity of the diamond industry,” he added. “Diamond trade is the mainstay of our economy. There is no greater motivation than to host the KP and continue the legacy and spirit of the KP Certification Scheme.”
Meanwhile, Kimberley Process Chairman Ahmed Bin Suyalem expressed gratitude for the KP Secretariat being in Botswana, the heartland of natural diamonds. He noted that this geographical placement symbolises Africa’s leadership and commitment to advancing the future of the natural diamond industry.
“We live in a time of extreme geopolitical uncertainty and escalating conflicts in many parts of the world,” he remarked.
“There are those who seek to undermine the Kimberley Process, offering untested alternatives or advocating for changes that serve their own interests—sometimes politically motivated, sometimes opportunistic.”
Established by the Southern African diamond-producing countries in 2000, the KP aims to protect the legitimate trade in rough diamonds, which many countries rely on for economic development. The Kimberley Process led to the creation of an International Certification Scheme for the rough diamond trade, adopted at a ministerial meeting held in Interlaken, Switzerland, on November 5, 2002.
