With the recent approval of Diamonds de Canada, the NWT gem industry could be looking at a possible, second economic-boost after the pandemic effectively shut it down in 2020.
Diamonds de Canada isnSA国际影视传媒檛 the only interested business, according to Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) Caroline Wawzonek.
RELATED REPORTING: GNWT approves Diamonds de Canada Ltd. as diamond manufacturer
SA国际影视传媒淭here were two others that had shown an interest,SA国际影视传媒� said Wawzonek. SA国际影视传媒淥r at least had taken initial steps, one of them being Diamonds de Canada, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 now completed that process. Then the second one is still showing interest, I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know where they might be in the course of making an application or seeking an approval.SA国际影视传媒�
Though the details surrounding the organization remain unknown, their undertaking of application is part of the ITISA国际影视传媒檚 Approved NWT Diamond Manufacturers (or ANDM) program-based strategy.
SA国际影视传媒淪o what that means is,SA国际影视传媒� said Wawzonek. SA国际影视传媒淲e have diamond producing mines which is sort of the very front end of the diamond chain in the mineral resource sector. We work with the [sector] on royalties, taxation, impact benefit agreements, all those different pieces that we have to try to maximize the value of that part of what happens in the diamond industry.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淥nce the diamonds enter their chain,SA国际影视传媒� continued Wawzonek. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of other points along the way where we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have an active role and we donSA国际影视传媒檛 necessarily see any further economic benefit.SA国际影视传媒�
To counteract this, and capture some of the aforementioned value, the department had approved Diamonds de Canada as part of the program.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 [ANDM] has been around for about a decade,SA国际影视传媒� said Wawzonek. SA国际影视传媒淭his approach of trying to encourage some sort of manufacturing locally here in the territory. As of 2018, they revamped that program a little bit, got a lot of really positive response to it internationally.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淭he most recent announcement was Diamonds De Canada,SA国际影视传媒� continued Wawzonek. SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檝e gone through the processes of applying to be an approved manufacturer, and with that, it brings bigger investments to the territories, it creates some jobs in the territories, and hopefully creates a little bit of buzz around the fact that we have this program here.SA国际影视传媒�
