The Diamond Technology Park (DTP) and the government of Botswana through its Okavango Diamond Company are having talks over the auctioning of gems from the new state of the art diamond bourse, in Gaborone.
Okavango would from next year market and sell between 10 and 15 percent of Debswana's run of mine production, under a 10-year deal signed between Gaborone and De Beers last year.
"We are in discussions with government, but it's too early to say they will operate from here because we have only just finished the building," DTP chief executive was quoted by Mmegi as saying.
"The Okavango Diamond Company has only just been established, but we are in conversation with government and we expect them to tender their goods on our trading platform.”
Okavango managing director Toby Frears recently said arranging a building to conduct tenders was part of the ramp up of activities towards the June 2013 target for diamond tenders.
"Over the coming months, we will be focusing on developing and implementing the launch plan, putting together a world class team including the appointment of a deputy MD, developing the company strategy and operating plan, defining sales model and identifying and equipping suitable premises for the start of trading activities," he was quoted as saying.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
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