The Andre Messika Diamond has given shares to its employees worth N$180,000.

The company has a workforce of 75, of which 40% are people with disabilities.

Andre Messika Diamond is the largest employer of people with disabilities in the diamond sector.

"Today, we are proud to be the single largest employer of disabled Namibians in the country. Another action that I am proud of is that we were the first company in the country to modify a minibus that will accommodate wheelchair users and drive them to work and back home with the full dignity they deserve," said Emanuel Namdar, Chief Executive Officer of Schachter & Namdar, which is the founding partner of the André Messika facility.

Speaking at the occasion, the Namibia Diamond Trading Company's (NDTC) Chief Executive Officer, Brent Eiseb, says diamond companies have a significant impact on the growth of the economy as well as job creation.

Eiseb also shared some milestones of the NDTC since its inception.

"Since its inception, NDTC has made available N$75 billion worth of rough diamonds in Namibia. This day-to-day activity that these factories are undertaking has resulted in a significant increase in the number of citizens employed in this industry, like some of you sitting here. This has resulted in the latest data indicating that the number of Namibian jobs has increased by 53% in the last 12 months."

The Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, Kornelia Shilunga, commended the Andre Messika Diamond Company.

She also highlighted the ministry's role when it comes to diamond beneficiation.

"The ministry is charged with control, monitoring, and protection of diamond activities, be they on land or at sea. Further to that, the ministry has come up with a mineral beneficiation strategy envisaged to transform the economy through diversification, job creation, skill development, and increased income distribution."

Shilunga called on all stakeholders to support local diamond companies