Israeli diamantaire begs for diamond deal

OGONE TLHAGE WINDHOEKIn his latest bid to convince government to renew the five-year Namdia valuation deal, Israeli diamantaire Doron Cohen says the country can save a lot of money if he is contracted.Despite government’s insistence to cancel the controversial valuation deal between C-Sixty Investments and Namibia Desert Diamonds, Cohen continues to knock on the doors of the mines ministry.In June 2020, he submitted an unsolicited bid to have the contract continue beyond its expiry date.His latest attempt was on 21 January 2021 when he wrote to the ministry’s executive director, Simeon Negumbo.In the letter, Cohen went to great lengths to market his skills and told Negumbo that the extension of C-Sixty’s agreement would guarantee cost saving for government.Government has in the past made it clear that it has no appetite to continue with the arrangement.“C-Sixty’s proposal for an extension of the agreement has the ultimate aim of establishing a programme that offers not only cost-effective diamond valuation and advisory services to Namdia but also the development of valuation capacity with the ministry of mines and its agencies,” Cohen said.Saving a ‘substantial’ amount“The proposal will save the ministry of mines and government a substantial amount of money and will also equip the ministry with valuation capabilities, effectively eliminating valuation and advisory fees upon maturity of the renewed five-year agreement,” he said.Cohen, who describes himself as a diamond expert, said he is the exclusive distributor of all Sarine diamond products in four African countries.He also promised to help develop the capacity within the mines ministry to operate world-class valuation services.Namibian Sun previously reported that a fallout between C-Sixty and Cohen led to the company nearly being stripped of its lucrative multimillion-dollar contract by government, before the same agent bought out the local partners, businessmen John Walenga and Tironeen Kauluma, to secure the contract for himself.Nuska Technologies, run by Cohen, had been accused of going behind C-Sixty’s back by approaching the mines ministry with a proposal to take over the diamond valuation contract.

Israeli diamantaire begs for diamond deal

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-10-08

Please login to leave a comment

Israeli diamantaire begs for diamond deal

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-10-08

Please login to leave a comment

Login