Botswana and Angola Join World Federation of Diamond Bourses

The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) has announced the admission of Botswana and Angola as nation affiliated members. This significant development, confirmed during the WFDB International Summit held in Gaborone, Botswana, underscores the increasing importance of producer-country participation in shaping the future of the natural diamond sector.

Strengthening Global Representation and Cooperation

The inclusion of Botswana and Angola as affiliated members marks a new chapter for the WFDB, which is the umbrella organization for the world’s leading diamond bourses. This move is expected to foster greater cooperation between diamond-producing nations and the international diamond manufacturing and trading community. Both countries, whose economies are heavily reliant on diamonds, sought representation to engage directly with traders and bourses on critical issues such as responsible sourcing, traceability, and differentiating natural diamonds from lab-grown alternatives.

WFDB President Yoram Dvash emphasized the significance of this alignment: “Bringing together governments, producers, traders and industry leaders in Botswana reflects the increasing importance of alignment across the natural diamond sector at a time of significant change for the industry. The inclusion of Botswana and Angola further strengthens the Federation’s global representation and reinforces our shared commitment to transparency, responsibility and the long-term future of natural diamonds.”

Summit Focuses on Responsible Luxury and Future of Diamonds

The WFDB International Summit, co-hosted by Botswana’s Ministry of Minerals and Energy, centered on the theme “Nation-Building and the Future of Responsible Luxury.” Discussions revolved around key aspects of the natural diamond sector, including provenance, beneficiation, transparency, sustainability, and value creation for producing nations and trading centers. The summit also explored strategies to bolster consumer confidence in natural diamonds amidst evolving market conditions and consumer expectations.

Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, highlighted the importance of this affiliation during Botswana’s 60th anniversary of independence celebrations: “Hosting the WFDB International Summit in Botswana during the celebration of our 60th anniversary reflects the important role Botswana has played in the governance and promotion of natural diamonds. It further highlights the impact diamonds have had on our national development journey. Joining the WFDB is a further symbol of our commitment to stronger international collaboration, responsible growth and ensuring natural diamonds continue to create long-term value for our people and the wider industry.”

Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Diamantino Azevedo, Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, stated: “Angola is committed to building a modern, transparent and globally competitive diamond sector. Joining the WFDB represents an important step in strengthening our engagement with the international trading community while supporting broader co-operation across the industry.”

Future Participation

While Botswana and Angola currently hold affiliate memberships, they are set to participate as full members in the World Diamond Congress 2026, scheduled to take place in Singapore from July 12-15. This participation signifies their growing integration into the global diamond trading network.

Mehul Shah, Vice President of Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB), also attended the summit and presented a special postal stamp issued by the Government of India to Minister Kenewendo, further symbolizing the strong relationship between Botswana and India within the diamond industry.