The Democratic Republic of Congo has signed a diamond marketing and processing agreement with Switzerland-based ADEX Platform, creating a new 50-50 joint venture with the state-run Mining Fund for Future Generations. The deal is designed to help Congo retain more value from its diamonds by supporting local cutting, jewellery production and direct access to international buyers.
Key Overview
- Congo and ADEX Platform will create ADEX RDC S.A., owned equally by ADEX and FOMIN.
- The venture is expected to establish a local cutting and jewellery facility built to international standards.
- A digital platform will support direct diamond sales to global markets.
- Congo wants the deal to improve transparency, reduce smuggling and increase domestic value addition.
- Official diamond production fell from about 13 million carats in 2021 to 8.1 million carats in 2025.
Congo Moves to Capture More Diamond Value
The Democratic Republic of Congo has signed an agreement with ADEX Platform to market and process Congolese diamonds domestically, marking a new attempt to increase local value addition in a sector long affected by informal mining, weak traceability and illicit exports.
The agreement was signed between ADEX and the state-run Mining Fund for Future Generations, known as FOMIN. According to the mines ministry, the partnership will create ADEX RDC S.A., a joint venture owned equally by the two partners. Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba presided over the signing, positioning the project as part of Congo’s wider effort to reform its mining sector and retain more value from natural resources before they leave the country.
The new venture is expected to build an international-standard cutting and jewellery facility in Congo. It will also develop a digital sales platform that allows diamonds to be marketed directly to global buyers, rather than relying mainly on rough-stone exports through traditional trading channels.
Why the Deal Matters for Congo’s Diamond Sector
Congo remains one of Africa’s most important diamond producers, but the sector has struggled to convert production volumes into stronger national revenues. Official data cited in the announcement shows that diamond production fell from about 13 million carats in 2021 to 8.1 million carats in 2025. Around 85% of output comes from artisanal mining, while industrial production is dominated by SACIM, a China-backed joint venture that produced just over 1 million carats last year.
That structure creates two challenges. First, artisanal production can be difficult to trace, certify and tax. Second, exporting rough stones limits the value captured locally, because cutting, polishing, jewellery manufacturing and final sales often take place outside the producing country.
ADEX’s model is built around a more direct trading system. The company says its platform is designed to support transparent direct sales of rough, cut and polished diamonds and gemstones from African producing countries to international buyers. Its stated approach includes provenance information, equal partnerships with African governments and a digital marketplace intended to reduce trading barriers.
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Local Processing and Digital Sales Take Centre Stage
The proposed ADEX RDC S.A. structure had already been approved by Congo’s government before the signing. Earlier reporting on the planned venture noted that the company would be equally owned by FOMIN and ADEX Platform AG, with the goal of strengthening processing and international marketing of diamonds and coloured gemstones, especially those linked to artisanal mining.
The domestic processing element is important because it gives Congo a route to move beyond raw extraction. If implemented effectively, local cutting, polishing and jewellery manufacturing could create jobs, transfer technical skills and help formalise parts of the diamond supply chain.
A digital platform may also help Congo improve traceability. ADEX says buyers on its system can access detailed diamond information and that stones can be sold with full provenance, including origin-linked data. For Congo, stronger traceability could support formal exports, reduce smuggling risk and make Congolese diamonds more attractive to buyers seeking ethical and transparent sourcing.
A Reform Push Beyond Diamonds
The diamond agreement comes as Congo is trying to take firmer control of its broader mining economy. The country is best known globally as the top cobalt supplier, but it is also a significant diamond producer. Global mining data shows Congo remains a notable player in natural industrial diamond supply, with the U.S. Geological Survey listing Congo among leading producers in its 2025 diamond summary.
For the government, the ADEX deal is not only about diamonds. It fits a wider policy direction focused on domestic processing, higher state revenues, better export controls and stronger bargaining power in mineral value chains. The test will be execution: whether ADEX RDC S.A. can build credible local processing capacity, attract trusted buyers, formalise artisanal supply and deliver measurable gains to Congo’s treasury and mining communities.
Sources used: Reuters / Bankable / ADEX Platform / U.S. Geological Survey
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