Journalist

WINDHOEK – Namib Desert Diamonds (PTY) Ltd (Namdia), the leading Namibian diamond marketing and sales company established three years ago, and the country’s member mobilization force, Team Namibia, have signed a memorandum of understanding ‘agreement to start with Namdia’s Team Namibia membership and strategic partnership on July 1, 2019.
Both organizations, involved in marketing and finding a sustainable route to market, recognize the importance of building a strong and recognizable brand, as well as the value of the mutual association of two of Namibia’s leading national brands. Their mandates are to see the greatest return for Namibian diamonds in the international market and also to constantly publicize the offerings of local manufacturers, producers and service providers, respectively.
The MoU encourages collaborative marketing efforts between organizations. This will lead to awareness raising on Team Namibia’s digital marketing platforms (Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram) through the distribution of content provided by Namdia. Joint campaigns and competitions to reach targeted audiences in Namibia and the region will also take place. Namdia will display the Team Namibia member logo on various traditional and digital marketing platforms, and will also distribute the Team Namibia member directory as appropriate. In addition, the activities of the Namibia team members provide the opportunity for networking and regular exchange of sales and marketing trends among members. This will provide Namdia with additional access to Namibian businesses.
Namdia supports Team Namibia’s mandate to raise awareness of the need to buy, buy and source local products and services.
Kennedy Hamutenya, Chairman and CEO of Namdia said: “The Namibia team deserves all the support they can get. As a Section 21 member company, it does an excellent job in keeping with Namibia’s national development plans. The organization, currently funded solely by membership dues, makes a valuable and important contribution to securing market access for Namibian goods and services, ultimately ensuring the sustainable economic development of Namibia. I believe that Uukumwe, the mantra and call for collaboration of Team Namibia, is very relevant in today’s economic environment.
It would be fantastic if Namibia’s unique and highly sought-after diamond buyers recognized the opportunity for branding ”.
Bärbel Kirchner, Account Director of Team Namibia, said: “We are really very happy that Namdia has joined Team Namibia. We are exceptionally proud that our own Namib Desert Diamonds join our group of members who provide high quality goods and services and effectively contribute to our economy. Namibian diamonds are of rare quality, ensuring a niche product in the luxury brand segment.
“We cherish the fact that organizations from the main economic sectors of Namibia have taken the lead and joined Team Namibia, such as Seaworks, the Namibia Tourism Board and now Namdia. This is a sign of strong collaboration and team spirit in our efforts to secure access to marketing, both nationally and outside Namibia’s borders.
Established in 2016 by the government, Namdia operates as a private company, governed by the Companies Law, with limited liability. Namdia was formed following the signing of a sales and marketing agreement between the government and the De Beers group of companies regarding the diamonds of Namdeb Holdings.
Under the terms of the agreement, Namdia is to purchase, on behalf of the government, a purchase right representing 15 percent per annum of Namdeb’s total off-stream production. Its aim is to achieve maximum value for the government by trading rough diamonds on the global market and to create a Namibian footprint in the downstream market.