By Ukumbi Afrika The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has entered into a strategic partnership with Swiss technology company ADEX Platform to modernise its diamond industry, increase domestic value addition and improve transparency across the country’s gemstone supply chain.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has signed a landmark agreement with Switzerland-based ADEX Platform, a diamond and gemstone technology company, as part of broader efforts to transform its diamond industry and retain greater value from one of its most important natural resources.
The agreement, signed between ADEX Platform and the state-owned Mining Fund for Future Generations (FOMIN), establishes a new joint venture known as ADEX RDC S.A., with both partners holding equal ownership.
The signing ceremony was presided over by Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba, underscoring the government’s commitment to strengthening governance within the mining sector while promoting industrial development.
Under the agreement, the joint venture will establish an international-standard diamond cutting and jewellery manufacturing facility in the DRC. It also plans to develop a digital trading platform that will enable Congolese diamonds to be marketed directly to international buyers, reducing reliance on intermediaries and improving market transparency.
Government officials say the initiative is designed to combat illicit diamond exports, strengthen traceability and ensure that a larger share of the industry’s economic value is retained within the country through local processing and manufacturing.
The Democratic Republic of Congo remains one of the world’s leading diamond producers and Africa’s second-largest producer. However, the sector has faced significant challenges in recent years, including declining production and widespread smuggling, both of which have reduced government revenues.
Official figures show that national diamond production declined from approximately 13 million carats in 2021 to 8.1 million carats in 2025. Around 85% of production continues to come from artisanal miners, while industrial production is dominated by SACIM, a Chinese-backed joint venture that produced just over one million carats last year.
The new partnership reflects the government’s broader strategy to move beyond the export of raw minerals by encouraging local beneficiation, technological innovation and greater participation in global value chains.
For many African mineral-producing countries, the greatest economic opportunity lies not only in extracting natural resources but also in processing and manufacturing them locally. The DRC’s partnership with ADEX represents an important step towards building a more competitive downstream diamond industry, creating skilled employment, improving export earnings and strengthening transparency in one of Africa’s most strategically important mining sectors.
Source:
Reporting: Fiston Mahamba.
Writing: Maxwell Akalaare Adombila.
Editing: Jan Harvey.