Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) has defended selecting only five Namibian companies for its new diamond sales cycle amid claims the decision has led to factory closures and job losses.
It is understood that 11 Namibian companies applied to be selected as Namdia clients for the 2026-2029 diamond sales cycle.
“Namdia operates with a limited allocation of diamonds and must balance local participation with its primary mandate of achieving optimal price discovery and maximising value for the government and people of Namibia,” Namdia spokesperson Beverley Coussement said yesterday.
According to Coussement, applicants were assessed on annual turnover, financial capability, industry experience, branding and collaboration proposals, as well as local beneficiation and ownership.
She said all applicants who met the required evaluation threshold were considered commercially suitable and included on the final client list.
“This represents a significant increase in local participation compared to the previous sales cycle, where only two Namibian companies formed part of Namdia’s client base,” she said.
The response comes after several unsuccessful applicants complained that the selection outcome had negatively affected Namibia’s diamond cutting and polishing industry, with some saying businesses had been forced to shut down operations.
“I am very disappointed that most of the local factories were not prioritised or considered even when I believe we met the requirements,” says one of the factory owners who prefers to remain anonymous.
The factory says as a result, about 25 Namibian employees have lost their jobs and the factory is forced to close down.
“These are some of the things that they should have considered before looking at international companies,” the source reveals.
It argues that some of the factories chosen only employ about two people.
All the 75 applicants were required to pay an application fee of US$10 000 which is more N$100 000.
Namdia announced on Tuesday it had concluded its client selection process for the 2026 to 2029 trading period, selecting 32 companies from 75 applications received from around the world.
The applications came from Namibia, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, Hong Kong, Israel, Singapore, the United States, Armenia and Zimbabwe, making it one of the company’s most competitive client selection processes to date.
The five Namibia-based companies selected are Avalon Diamonds Namibia, Fine Star Jewellery and Diamonds Namibia, Gayane Trading, Sinco Investments and Stargems Manufacturing Namibia.
Belgium accounts for the largest number of successful companies with 10 firms on the list, followed by India and the UAE with eight companies each.
Namdia says the high number of applications reflects continued international confidence in the quality and value of Namibian natural diamonds.
