The KGK Group's operations cover the manufacture of diamonds and jewellery
It is a site holder with De Beers in India and South Africa and a contracted company for Alrose in Russia.
Its operations cover the manufacture of diamonds and jewellery, the marketing for diamonds and jewellery and the retailing of jewellery. The group has adopted a combination of organic and inorganic routes to service the diamond value chain.
The organic routes are focused on investing in new manufacturing units and sales offices, growing existing accounts and strengthening relationship with primary rough sources. On the inorganic side, it is acquiring various brands to bolster its operations.
Globally, it owns 15 diamond manufacturing facilities that produce more than 600 000 carats of polished diamonds every year. This multi-location strategy ensures business continuity and consistency in servicing of clients.
Recently, KGK has ventured into jewellery manufacturing and has set up four jewellery manufacturing units with more than 2 000 experienced staff.
It is one of the largest marketing companies for polished diamonds and jewellery in the world. Through its global network of 22 offices, it services the global requirements of more than 2 000 customers including wholesalers and jewellery manufacturers, retailers and brands.
The KGK Group has formed strategic partnerships with its leading customers. It is also contributing to the development of healthcare and education in India.
To this end, it has established a state-of-the-art hospital (Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital) for cancer treatment and research. Additionally, the KGK Diamond Training Institute has trained over 3 000 people who are currently working for various companies across India.
The KGK Group entered the South African market in 1996 and established a factory in Johannesburg. It is among the first Indian promoted companies to receive a license for diamond cutting and polishing in the country.
One of the reasons for entering the market was to maximise its production and to provide adequate training and employment for local residents. The factory is also equipped with the latest technologies such as a laser bruting and purity planning unit. It has installed capacity of processing rough diamonds worth $100-million.
There is also a special section for female employees. KGK has ensured that it is fully compliant with the beneficiation laws of the country. It has a dedicated sales and marketing team in the country to look after the commercial aspect of the business unit. The polished diamonds from the unit are sold to retailers across the country.
The group has preferred supplier status for polished diamonds to major retailers such as the Foschini Group, the Galaxy Group and Tour West. KGK has also established relationships with small independents and smaller stores such as Charles Grieg, Browns, Jack Friedman and Prins & Prins. There is an in-house training centre at the manufacturing facility where local employees are provided training on various aspects of the diamond industry.
The group also facilitates a number of initiatives that include the transfer of knowledge skills, training unskilled workers at the Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Learning School, widening the distribution network to access the domestic and foreign markets, research and development and innovation incentives and capabilities, and the development of appropriate and competitively-priced infrastructure.
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