The long-awaited launch of the Saurimo Diamond Hub was inaugurated last Friday by President João Lourenço amidst huge cheer. The Saurimo Diamond Development Hub is a space, the main objective of which is to bring together companies related to the mining economy with a focus on the diamond value chain.
The creation of the hub will allow the country to develop the Diamond Exchange Market, but also to increase production, reduce illegal mining and increase the cutting capacity, which should reach 20% of the total diamond production in Angola.
The hub, with an investment of US$77 million in the first phase, will have four diamond cutting factories that will join the existing four in the country.
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Built in an area of 305.185.74 square meters, the hub is divided into three main areas: commercial, industrial and one reserved for the hybrid plant.
The commercial area with a public access nucleus including shops, restaurants, food court, banks, tax offices, other offices, convention center, professional technical school, medical center and accommodation building.
The industrial area consists of 26 lots of different dimensions for the implementation of a diamond cutting training centre, cutting factory and other industries in the diamond sector.
Located four kilometers off the city of Saurimo, the hub in its entirety, will guarantee five thousand jobs.
In 2020: Sodiam, Angola’s state diamond company, opened a jewelry store, its latest attempt to boost the local trade in the mining-focused country.