India’s Diamond Hub Ambitions Get a Boost as Namibia Explores Direct Rough Trade
A senior Namibian delegation met GJEPC in Mumbai to explore direct rough diamond trade with India, following proposed tax reforms that could position India as a global diamond trading hub.
Dubai, 13 August 2026:
Led by Ms. Gaudentia Krohne, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, Namibia, the delegation held a B2B engagement with GJEPC focused on strengthening cooperation and creating greater access to Namibian rough diamonds for Indian buyers and manufacturers.
The delegation included Mr. Rehabeam Nepaya, Deputy Director, Diamond Affairs; Ms. Secret Ruhaka and Mr. Titus Amukwelele, Diamond Inspectors; and Mr. Balchand Jain, Honorary Consul of Namibia in Mumbai.
Namibia produced approximately 2.09 million carats of diamonds worth US$721.4 million in 2025, achieving a record average value of US$343.88 per carat. The country ranked fifth globally by diamond value and accounted for around 8% of global rough diamond production.
India, meanwhile, remains one of the world's largest diamond manufacturing and trading centres. In 2025, the country imported approximately 106.09 million carats of rough diamonds valued at US$11.07 billion, highlighting the scale of its diamond processing ecosystem.
A key focus of the discussions was Namibia's interest in bringing rough diamonds directly to India for showcasing and sale. Such direct access could create new opportunities for Indian manufacturers while strengthening trade links between the two countries.
The discussions come amid a proposed 15-year tax exemption on rough diamond trading through notified Special Notified Zones (SNZs) at the Bharat Diamond Bourse and Surat Diamond Bourse. The proposed reform could encourage international mining companies and diamond traders to bring rough diamonds directly to India.
GJEPC is also exploring the possibility of an MoU with Namibia to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and facilitate direct diamond trade between the two markets.
The latest engagement signals growing momentum around India's ambition to evolve from being primarily a global diamond cutting and polishing centre into a major international rough diamond trading hub.
With Namibia's high-value rough diamonds and India's extensive manufacturing, trading and jewellery ecosystem, closer cooperation could create significant opportunities for both countries and further strengthen India's position in the global diamond industry.
