Russian investors seek to start diamond cutting business in Nairobis
Written By:VPPS , Posted: Fri, May 02, 2008
Nairobi may soon become a diamond cutting center following the expression of an interest by a group of investors willing to set up a diamond cutting business in Kenya.
This was disclosed Friday when the team of Russian investors paid a courtesy call on Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka at his Jogoo House office with the proposal to make Nairobi rival other diamond cutting centers like Antwerp in Belgium.
The team led by the Russian Ambassador to Kenya, Valery Yegoshkin said the investors plan to set up the factory at the Export Processing Zone Authority in Nairobi and source the raw diamond from neighboring Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Vice President lauded the cordial relations existing between Russia and Kenya saying that the government was ready to welcome Russian mineral experts interested in investing in the country.
Mr. Musyoka said besides investing in mining the country will also benefit in the tourism sector and called for strengthening of the relations between the two countries.
Yegoshkin said the mineral investors who will work closely with the Ministry of Natural Resources were ready to bring equipment, technology and train Kenyans on the gemstone business.
He said the minerals that will be produced will be Kenyan production and disclosed that the investors will also put up a university to train Kenyans on mining.
Yegoshkin expressed optimism that the investment will create job opportunities in Kenya, promote education, tourism and improve the economy.
Among the investors who accompanied the Ambassador were the Director of Eidos-lik Diamond Company, Mr. Kim Peter and Bazolin Konstantin. The Permanent Secretary in the office of the Vice President Dr. Ludeki Chweya also attended the function.