DRC Launches New Diamond Company to Strengthen Local Processing and Exports
DRC Approves ADEX RDC SA Joint Venture to Boost Diamond Processing and Local Value Addition
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has approved the creation of ADEX RDC SA, a new joint venture aimed at modernizing and strengthening the country’s diamond sector through increased local value addition.
The decision was taken during the 91st ordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Friday, May 29, 2026, in Kinshasa.
The proposal was presented by the Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, and subsequently validated by the government.
ADEX RDC SA will be structured as a 50-50 joint venture between FOMIN and ADEX Platform AG, forming a strategic partnership designed to enhance the processing and commercialization of Congolese diamonds.
According to official statements, the partnership leverages the technical expertise of ADEX Platform AG, a consortium with experience in the global diamond industry and representation within the World Diamond Council, including a current vice-presidential member.
Minister Kabamba outlined the strategic benefits of the project, emphasizing its focus on increasing domestic value retention through the internalization of diamond processing activities such as cutting, polishing, and international marketing.
This approach is expected to significantly raise the share of value captured by the DRC from its artisanal diamond and colored stone production.
The country’s diamond deposits, first exploited in 1936 and estimated by the Centre of Expertise, Evaluation and Certification (CEEC) to have at least 50 years of remaining potential, are seen as a long-term economic asset under the new model.
From a fiscal perspective, the government expects the initiative to generate substantial public revenue within the first five years of operation.
The project also outlines a broader socio-economic impact, including the creation of approximately 30 to 40 direct jobs within ADEX RDC SA and between 120 and 150 indirect jobs.
It further includes provisions for the transfer of advanced diamond processing technology and skills from Switzerland, aimed at developing a broader downstream industry encompassing jewellery, gold, and other high-value mineral sectors in the DRC.
