Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe
22 August 2008
Gaborone — A new diamond company in Botswana has said that it will start a training programme to impart skills to locals. Werner Van den Eynde said that his company, Beltimpec will soon be training locals in diamond cutting and polishing skills.
Van den Eynde is an agent of Belgium company HRD Antwerp. He said when his company moves into the Diamond Technology Park in October, it will offer training in diamond industry-based skills. The trainees will be taught how to use and service HRD diamond equipment among other things. The training will be free. Van den Eynde said he has made arrangements with local diamond companies to recruit labour from his company at a fee.
"The companies will come and scout for talent at our company, and they will pay for what they need, but I am confident all our products will find placement in the Botswana diamond industry because the training we offer will be tailor-made for the market needs," he told Business Week.
He said his training centre at the Diamond Technology Park will be fitted with demo equipment to be used for training. Van den Eynde's former employer, HRD said in a press release that he will be responsible for technical training in Botswana.
HRD Antwerp general manager, Georges Brys announced early this year that they have appointed Van den Eynde to represent their commercial interests in Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, the DRC, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Lesotho and Swaziland.
Van, den Eynde has more than 10 years experience in the diamond industry. He was an executive at HRD headquarters in Antwerp for five years.
"In addition to acting as a supplier of equipment and tools to the local diamond industry, he will also offer technical training, advice and after-sales service. Among the products are: EOS, a semi-automatic machine for bruting and girdling diamonds; Octopus, the intelligent polishing tang; Avalon, a 'smoothness' visualisation device; Pendragon, a polishing mill; D-scope, a diamond microscope; and D-Screen, the world's most compact diamond screening unit," HRD Antwerp said in a statement.
"Our expansion in Botswana is driven by an increasing demand for our professional equipment worldwide. New opportunities have arisen as diamond manufacturing has become more widespread with the expansion of beneficiation in Botswana and Southern Africa. As our diamond equipment have a strong reputation on the African market, we felt it was imperative to provide custom-tailored services," said HRD Antwerp general manager Georges Brys.
Brys described Van den Eynde as a specialist in diamond polishing and cutting. He said setting up an HRD agency in Botswana will ensure that equipment will be upgraded or repaired locally.
"He (Van den Eynde) will provide top class service and support, after sales service, and training. The intention is to service the equipment locally and not overseas," Brys said.
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