Exelco Group to Opens Botswana Polishing Facility

Exelco, a Diamond Trading Company (DTC) Sightholder, has received a diamond cutting license in Botswana, and plans to start polishing operations by late 2007.

The company has registered a company, H&A Cutting Works (Botswana) (Pty) Ltd, earlier this year, joining their current manufacturing facility, H&A Cutting Works Ltd, located in Bangkok, Thailand.

Exelco has acquired a 10,000 square meter plot of land located in the center of Gaborone in close proximity to the new DTC and Debswana buildings.  Construction of the factory will commence in January 2007 with an estimated completion date of September 2007.

According to Hugh Van Es, managing director of the Thai factory and project manager for Botswana, they plan to employ 500 workers and transfer their know how and expertise in polishing Ideal Cut, Triple Excellent Diamonds to Botswana.

Samuel Mothibi, former General Manager of the Standard Chartered Bank, will manage the new plant.  An initial group of 30 people will be trained at the Bangkok factory.  They will then relocate to Gaborone and, together with a team of Thai experts, become the core of the new manufacturing facility.

According to managing partner Jean Paul Tolkowsky, “Opening a manufacturing facility in Botswana confirms our Group’s vision that manufacturing in producing countries and bringing these diamonds directly through retail to the consumer is the future of our industry.  In line with that vision, we intend to become one of the largest employers in Botswana.”