BOCCIM database
Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry has undertaken to compile a database of suppliers in response to government’s Economic Diversification Drive (EDD), which is among other things, intended to enhance growth and expansion of local companies through the procurement of the locally produced goods and services. BOCCIM said interested companies should provide; contact details, product range, quality conformity, production capability and resource capacity.

A Cap update
Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) listed mining junior, A Cap Resources said high grade mineralisation intersected in resource drill-out across Gorgon South and Kraken confirms the continuity of mineralisation in preparation for further resource reclassification. The company said metallurgical testing of oxide and secondary ores suggests recoveries of above 80% can be achieved using an acid leach, and positive agglomeration results on both ore types were achieved. Initial results from radiometric sorting test work on oxide and primary ores show significant promise.

Gem gurus visit
Leaders from the manufacturing, retail, gem laboratory and education sectors of the American diamond industry, including a group of American Gem Society retailers, will make a once-in-a-lifetime journey to southern Africa during the first two weeks in August 2010. Led by Diamond Trading Company sightholder, the Julius Klein Group (JKG), and supported by the American Gem Society, the group of 15 diamond industry innovators will begin the trip in London, followed by South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, combined to produce approximately $2.9 billion (U.S. Dollars) worth of rough diamonds in 2009.