The first International Diamond Conference was held in Windhoek on 2 November 2005, drawing together major diamond industry players to discuss issues of diamond development in Namibia and southern Africa, in particular Botswana, South Africa and Angola. The one-day conference was held under the theme “Diamonds for Development.”
	The conference also focused on how to deal with issues such as beneficiation, jewellery manufacturing in producer counties, indigenous ownership in the industry through genuine empowerment and how countries could participate at all levels of the diamond pipeline. Conference facilitator Chaim Even-Zohar of Tacy Ltd said during his overview presentation that the southern African diamond-producing countries of Namibia, Botswana and South Africa had proved that the gems could be used for good. Addressing the gathering on behalf of his Minister, the Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, Henock ya Kasita, said as an industry that contributes significantly to Namibia’s economy, it was imperative that diamonds made a tangible contribution improving the standard of living of Namibians. He said citizens of diamond-producing counties were putting pressure on their Governments to do more and secure their participation in diamond industries. “Concerns are specifically raised on rough diamonds that are being taken out from these countries to other counties and in this way no job opportunities and much needed skills are left for them.  More cutting and polishing factories should be established and the exporting of rough diamonds be minimized to give the existing cutting and polishing factories a chance to sustain themselves and in so doing, to keep the jobs of those employed”.