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In a move to boost the gemstone mining sector in Zambia, President Hakainde Hichilema interacted with a delegation led by Sean Gilbertson, the CEO of Gemfields Group, and Kagem Mining. The discussions revolved around key aspects of gemstone mining, including the formalization of artisanal miners and strengthening partnerships to create employment opportunities in this vital sector.
In a move to boost the gemstone mining sector in Zambia, President Hakainde Hichilema interacted with a delegation led by Sean Gilbertson, the CEO of Gemfields Group, and Kagem Mining. The discussions revolved around key aspects of gemstone mining, including the formalization of artisanal miners and strengthening partnerships to create employment opportunities in this vital sector. President Hichilema emphasized the importance of emulating successful models from neighbouring countries to formalize artisanal miners. This approach is expected to stimulate economic growth and job creation within the sector.
Kagem Mining, a prominent player in Zambia’s gemstone industry, is 25% owned by the Zambian people through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). President Hichilema underscored the joint responsibility of safeguarding the country’s precious gemstone resources, with Kagem being 25% owned by the Zambian people through IDC, making them joint custodians of the country’s resources. President Hichilema acknowledged the need to improve transparency and efficiency in the sector to ensure that the benefits of this resource endowment are maximized for the nation’s development.
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Zambia holds the distinction of being the world’s leading producer of emeralds, with its high-quality gemstones highly sought after and commanding premium prices in global markets. The President pledged to continue engaging at this level to explore opportunities for the industry’s advancement, and he encouraged active participation from Zambians in the country’s economic development process. The gemstone sector is recognized as a crucial driver of economic growth, and the government’s commitment to fostering partnerships and enhancing transparency in this field is seen as a positive step toward realizing its full potential.
