The Democratic Republic of the Congo has signed a landmark agreement with ADEX Platform AG, a Switzerland-based diamond technology company, as the country intensifies efforts to capture more value from its vast mineral wealth and reduce dependence on raw gemstone exports.

The agreement establishes ADEX RDC S.A., a joint venture equally owned by the Congolese state and the Swiss partner, with the goal of transforming the country’s diamond industry through local processing, digital trading and improved traceability.

From rough stones to finished jeweller

Under the arrangement, diamonds mined in Congo will increasingly be cut, polished and transformed domestically rather than exported as rough stones.

The venture plans to build an international-standard diamond cutting and jewellery manufacturing facility alongside a digital marketplace designed to connect Congolese gemstones directly with international buyers.

The model aims to shorten supply chains, improve pricing transparency and curb illicit trade that has long drained government revenues from the sector. The agreement was signed in the presence of Louis Watum Kabamba and the state-owned Mining Fund for Future Generations, commonly known as FOMIN.

A bid to capture more mining wealth

The deal marks another step in Kinshasa’s broader strategy to move beyond the export of raw commodities and develop downstream industries capable of generating jobs and higher export earnings.

Despite ranking among the world’s top five diamond producers and Africa’s second largest, Congo has struggled with falling production and persistent smuggling networks that have undermined state revenues.

The partnership with ADEX aligns with growing global demand for ethically sourced and fully traceable gemstones, with the Swiss firm’s technology platform offering end-to-end provenance tracking and direct access to international markets.

Beyond diamonds: The critical minerals advantage

The diamond initiative arrives as Congo strengthens control over its wider mining industry, particularly cobalt, where the country accounts for roughly 70% of global reserves and about 60% of world production.

Authorities have tightened export controls and expanded oversight of artisanal production through state-backed entities in an effort to increase transparency and maximise returns from minerals essential to electric vehicles, smartphones and the global energy transition.

Headquartered in Lachen, Switzerland, ADEX Platform AG operates a global digital marketplace linking African diamond and gemstone producers directly with international buyers.

Through equal partnerships with governments and local subsidiaries, the company aims to strengthen supply-chain transparency, promote fair trade and increase value retention across Africa’s mining economies.