Alrosa CEO Pavel Marinychev met with members of the Smolensk regional leadership to discuss expanding the country’s diamond-cutting industry, as well as launching a training program.
The meeting with Smolensk region Governor Vasily Anokhin and Deputy Chairman of the region government Pyotr Ilyukhun took place at natural-diamond cutting factory Kristall, which belongs to the Alrosa group, the miner said last week. The company is partnering with the country’s Ministry of Finance and the Smolensk region administration on plans for the cutting sector, including infrastructure, services, tax incentives, and diamond production for the domestic market.
“The development of a domestic diamond-cutting cluster, with Smolensk as its central hub, will be an important factor in strengthening Russia’s industrial potential and creating added value in the diamond industry,” said Marinychev. “We are confident that Kristall, with its many years of experience and unique expertise, will provide an excellent technological base for future residents.”
As part of the collaboration between Alrosa and the regional authorities, the Smolensk Regional Technological Academy has launched jewelry and diamond-cutting training programs. The miner is supporting the initiative by offering students contracts that guarantee jobs after graduation. This year, 23 students are set to complete an internship at Kristall Production Association.
Image: Rough diamonds. (Alrosa)
Source : Rapaport