The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has signed a strategic agreement with Swiss diamond and gemstone technology company ADEX Platform AG to modernize the country’s diamond industry through local processing and direct international marketing. According to Reuters, the agreement aims to increase transparency, curb illicit diamond smuggling, and ensure the country captures more value from one of its key mineral resources by processing gemstones domestically rather than exporting them in raw form.
The agreement was signed between ADEX Platform AG and the state-owned Mining Fund for Future Generations (FOMIN) under the supervision of Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba. As part of the partnership, the two entities will establish a 50:50 joint venture known as ADEX RDC S.A., which will build an international-standard diamond cutting and jewellery manufacturing facility in the DRC while developing a digital platform to facilitate direct sales of Congolese diamonds to global markets. The Congolese government said the initiative is expected to strengthen traceability, improve governance across the diamond value chain, and promote responsible sourcing.
The DRC remains one of the world’s top five diamond producers and Africa’s second-largest producer, yet the sector has struggled with declining output and widespread illicit exports. Official data cited by Reuters show diamond production fell from about 13 million carats in 2021 to 8.1 million carats in 2025, with roughly 85% of output coming from artisanal mining. The government has intensified reforms across the mining sector to encourage local beneficiation, increase state revenues, and reduce dependence on raw mineral exports.
For the DRC, the partnership represents another step toward building a more competitive and transparent mineral industry while creating skilled jobs and expanding domestic manufacturing. Analysts say establishing local cutting, polishing, and jewellery production could significantly increase export earnings, strengthen investor confidence, and position the country as a higher-value participant in the global diamond supply chain rather than simply a supplier of raw gemstones.
