- 200 young Batswana, including members of the deaf community trained graduate from its training academy
- Launches innovative Diamond Cutting Course for the Deaf
Government has commended KGK Diamonds Botswana, a company specialising in diamond cutting and polishing for its implemention of comprehensive and inclusive recruitment and empowerment policies within its employment practices.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary to the President, Matshidiso Kobole was speaking during the graduation ceremony of 200 young Batswana, among them members of the deaf community, who underwent an intensive diamond-cutting and polishing course through KGK Academy, which is a training facility operated by the company.
The ceremony also served as a launch for the Diamond Cutting and Polishing manual for the Deaf, a groundbreaking initiative presented in sign language, which was developed locally by the company, with assistance from a Motswana trainer, Siphiwe Wilson.
Wilson is a certified language specialist and Trainer at KGK Academy. “We commend KGK for its broad and inclusive recruitment and empowerment policies. Amongst KGK trainees, there are members of the Society for the Deaf and the sports fraternity like the Botswana Table Tennis Association,” Kobole said. She emphasised that the company serves as an excellent example of a citizen-focused investor and a valuable partner in government national development initatives.
“KGK Diamonds Botswana is one of the largest cutting and polishing operations within the diamond industry in Botswana. It employs over 500 employees in this factory. It is worth noting that over 300 of these employees were recruited as fresh graduates and were trained from scratch before being absorbed into the workforce of the company. Beyond its training and staff development commitments, KGK is a model company in many other ways. I am aware of your staff welfare initiatives that are indeed innovative and will most certainly motivate your staff,” Kobole noted.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary thanked KGK for its contribution to the socio-economic development of the country and its commitment and support to the development of the diamond industry. “As the government, we will continue to create a conducive environment for the private sector to thrive. It remains our strong wish for KGK to thrive further and create more jobs for Batswana as it has already demonstrated through its Academy. You have indeed earned your status as a corporate citizen,” she concluded.
KGK Group Managing Director, Sandeep Kothari, noted that the academy represents a remarkable achievement in industry-related training, boasting a track record of producing graduates who are not just skilled but 100 percent employable. “What’s even more commendable is KGK’s commitment to absorbing every successful academy graduate into our workforce, a tradition we are proud to uphold,” Kothari said.
Kothari introduced Botswana Origin Gold, a significant development for KGK Jewelry Botswana, which he says will allow the company to beneficiate Botswana Gold, transforming it into exquisitely crafted diamond jewellery. “This jewellery will then be showcased on the global stage, a testament to the power of local talent and resources. In further exciting news, KGK Academy has achieved BQA Accreditation for its Jewelry Manufacturing Course. This accreditation opens doors for us to train more Batswana in jewellery manufacturing, empowering them with skills and opportunities in this thriving industry,” he added.
