Confident KGK launches jewellery factory
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday January 23, 2023 06:00
After opening its doors in Botswana in 2014, the company initially specialised in the cutting and polishing of rough diamonds, before expanding in 2019 to the manufacturing and retail of jewellery.
On Wednesday, President Mokgweetsi Masisi presided over the launch of the company’s jewellery factory.
In an interview on Wednesday, KGK diamonds assistant manager, Siddarth Gothi, told BusinessWeek that the company has managed to penetrate the industry through its products. He said through their jewellery factory located in Gaborone, they sell both to the international and local market.
“We entered into the next phase of beneficiation by starting the jewellery manufacturing business. “We usually buy our diamonds from De Beers then cut and polish them in our factory and export from here. “The idea is to export most of our jewellery from Botswana, but we also have a local boutique for local people so that they can buy Botswana diamonds in Botswana,” he said.
Commenting on the state of the diamond cutting and polishing industry locally, Gothi said the sector is growing at a fast pace as De Beers’ sightholders (accredited buyers) have grown from 20 as of March 2022 to 30 this year.
“It is a good thing that most of the diamonds will be beneficiated in Botswana and we are happy for the healthy competition, because competition is what keeps us on our toes,” he said.
KGK markets its jewellery through its own premium designer brands such as Martin Flyer, GREG Ruth and Entice.
Gothi said the company’s over-arching mission is to ensure systematic transfer of skills through their expert trainers, thereby enhancing the skills set of locals and aiding Batswana to gain economic independence and prosperity. KGK has a Botswana Qualification Authority-accredited training institute which offers theoretical and practical training for six months for the company’s employees to become basic polishers. In April last year the institute graduated 100 people and expects to graduate 200 more in April this year.
Currently the company has large scale jewellery manufacturing capabilities and operations in India, Hong Kong and China.
KGK manufacturing’s key strengths include their global presence and investment in technology as well as skilled manpower.