HB, a Mineral Infrastructure company pioneering a new way of diamond sourcing, transformation, and distribution, welcomed President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the Democratic Republic of Congo on his visit to its Botswana headquarters.
The Congolese President and his delegation were given an exclusive tour of the innovative HB ecosystem, which empowers mineral-rich countries like Botswana to take a more significant role in sourcing and distributing their natural resources.
The HB – Lucara Diamond Corp. – Botswana partnership is pioneering an entirely new, innovative approach to how extractive industries can benefit communities for the better. The goal is to replicate this model to create a scalable, state-of-the-art infrastructure based on excellence, fairness, honesty, and maximum value for all stakeholders. This partnership showcases how other Sub-Saharan African countries can own the benefits of their natural resources equally.
“We are delighted to share with H.E. President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and his team the value chain that we are developing here in Botswana, including our latest exploration and agreement with a trendsetter in the mineral infrastructure space: HB Antwerp,” said Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of Botswana, at a joint press conference with H.E. Tshisekedi. “His Excellency is visiting the HB Botswana facility because we want to see the same benefits for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo. We want to help accommodate their mineral wealth so they get more than they are getting now.”
His Excellency President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo was impressed with the innovative solutions developed by HB for this partnership and applauded the young pioneers for taking up such an essential role in the ecosystem and what it means for Africa. At the joint press conference, H.E. Tshisekedi emphasized the importance of empowering local communities to control their resources and participate in the transformation process. “When we talk about mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we talk about violence and poverty when it should be the opposite,” said H.E. Tshisekedi. “My vision is that the natural resources in my country should no longer be exploited but must instead be transformed locally.”
“We are honored to welcome H.E Tshisekedi to HB Botswana and to showcase our groundbreaking partnership with Lucara Diamond Corp. and the government for transforming minerals for the better. The HB model was built to accommodate scalability and opens the door for greater positive impact for other mineral-rich nations like the Democratic Republic of Congo” said HB co-founder Rafael Papismedov. “Our vision is to increase local ownership of natural resources for mining nations while ultimately delivering greater economic and development returns to their people.”
HB’s commitment to responsible sourcing and development has made them a leader in the diamond industry, and the visit by President Tshisekedi highlights the growing importance of sustainable and ethical business practices in the mineral sector.
