The NamGem Diamond Manufacturing Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Namdeb. President Sam Nujoma officially opened the company in August 1998. It is the first diamond manufacturing operation in Namibia, and was granted Cutters' Licence 0000001 under Namibia's Diamond Act. In 1994 the Namibian Government and De Beers began investigating a commercially viable operation that would make Namibia a centre of excellence in the diamond-manufacturing world. Plans for NamGem were approved in 1996, with the understanding that the company would: Provide employment for Namibian citizens Design a factory that ensured the security, health and safety of its workforce Provide the country with insight into the world-wide diamond manufacturing industry.
	Built at a cost of N$17m, NamGem's single factory possesses state-of-the-art equipment and is rated as one of the most technically advanced factories in Africa. Located in Okahandja - a decentralised area some 70km north of Windhoek - NamGem provides an excellent opportunity for local employment, training Namibians in both diamond and non-technical skills. The factory is expected to produce finished goods valued at more than N$100m per annum, when operating at full strength.Operations NamGem sources its diamonds from the Diamond Trading Company (DTC). The company is committed to the DTC's Best Practice Principles, which encourage high industry standards and ensure that its diamonds are not sourced from conflict regions. Diamond polishing at NamGem 137 employees work at NamGem to produce polished diamonds for export to the world's diamond trading centres. Locally, the company supplies Adrian Meyer Jewellers for distribution throughout Namibia (Tel:+264 61 236 100) . NamGem can produce between 130 and 150 stones per day. Staff are trained to polish diamonds to very high levels of craftsmanship, underpinning the determination to become a Centre of Excellence. NamGem produces a product that has already drawn praise from customers around the world. As a fully-computerised operation, NamGem has strict audit controls within the factory. These measures ensure the security of both the employees and the product, while providing reports to assist in the quality control of the product. Under an agreement with the Mine Workers' Union of Namibia, NamGem seeks full compliance to the Affirmative Action Act and has appointed Namibian citizens in training and leadership roles within the factory. NamGem has given its full support to Namdeb's group initiatives - notably, the Employees Wellness Programme and the Corporate Strategic Review. Over ninety per cent of staff participated in the anonymous HIV study as part of the group's Eluwa project. NamGem continues to develop and meet the challenges of the diamond manufacturing industry. The company assists Namibia to diversify its economy and acquire the technical skills to process its most valued commodity.