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The Deputy Minister Gaudentia Kröhne emphasized trade issues, economic resilience, and ethical sourcing, at the Angola round table.
In order to promote the integrity, economic worth, and ethical sourcing of natural diamonds, Namibia has reiterated its commitment to the global natural diamond sector and called for increased cooperation among diamond-producing nations. At the Ministerial Roundtable on the Promotion of Natural Diamonds, which took place in Luanda on June 18, 2025, Hon. Gaudentia Kröhne, Deputy Minister of Mines, Industries, and Energy, gave the speech.
Kröhne addressed ministers and industry leaders from across the globe, emphasizing Namibia’s long-standing dedication to ethical diamond production and its efforts to ensure that natural diamonds remain a cornerstone of sustainable development. She highlighted the significant role diamonds play in Namibia’s economy, contributing 6.3 percent to GDP in 2023 and supporting essential public services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
“Diamonds are more than a luxury product to us,” Kröhne noted. “They are a national asset that powers our development, creates jobs, and uplifts communities.”
The Deputy Minister outlined how Namibia’s diamond industry has evolved over the past two decades. Once a major exporter of rough stones, Namibia now champions value addition through local cutting, polishing, and branding made possible by the Diamond Act of 1999. This transformation has led to stronger local beneficiation and the creation of skilled employment opportunities, positioning Namibia as a global leader in natural diamond quality and ethical sourcing.
Despite these advancements, Namibia’s diamond sector has not been immune to external pressures. Kröhne acknowledged that the global market downturn driven largely by falling diamond prices and the growing popularity of lab-grown diamonds has significantly affected revenue. She pointed to Debmarine Namibia’s sharp decline in contributions to state coffers, from nearly N$6 billion in early 2023 to just over N$2 billion by mid-year. A full recovery, she said, is only expected by 2027.
She warned that the new trade barriers could also jeopardize the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a longstanding US trade policy that has granted preferential access to African exports.
Despite these challenges, Kröhne remained optimistic, citing ongoing dialogue between De Beers Group and US authorities in pursuit of a zero-tariff arrangement.
Namibia has stepped up its attempts to highlight the special value of natural diamonds in response to these difficulties. Namibia continues to promote its diamonds as genuine, uncommon, and ethically obtained through the Diamond Board of Namibia. In order to provide customers who seek ethical and traceable luxury items with more transparency and confidence, blockchain technology is being utilized to track the origins of each stone.
Additionally, the US Executive Order issued in April 2025, which imposes a 21 percent duty on Namibian resource exports, including diamonds, is a new move that could further affect Namibia’s diamond exports, Kröhne said. Such duties threaten to lower export volumes, cause trade imbalances, and sabotage Namibia’s delicate diamond recovery in the US, a vital market.
