Botswana's Minister of Minerals, Energy, and Water Resources, Dr. P.H.K. Kedikilwe, is attending the Antwerp Diamond Conference, which launches today in Belgium's diamond trading center.

This year's conference is titled "Diamonds 2020: A window to the future" and will indentify and analyze trends expected to affect the diamond industry in the coming years.

Kedikilwe is expected to present Botswana's position on the issues of diamond beneficiation and diamond cutting, polishing, and jewelry manufacturing, areas in which Botswana – currently known mainly as a producer of rough diamonds – is seeking to expand.