Tanzania Signs MoU with Thailand’s Sunset Gem to Boost Value Addition in the Mining Sector

Tanzania’s Ministry of Minerals has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Thailand’s Sunset Gem Company to transfer new technology for gemstone value addition.

The agreement was signed in Dodoma on March 25, 2025, as part of the government’s strategy to ensure Tanzania has the capacity to add value to gemstones instead of selling them raw.

Through this agreement, Tanzania will benefit from the transfer of new mineral value addition technology while strengthening the Tanzania Gemological Centre (TGC), a key institution in the gemstone sector.

During the singing ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for Tanzania’s Ministry of Minerals, Engineer Yahya Samamba, stressed that the government is committed to developing the mining sector by ensuring minerals are processed and value-added within Tanzania rather than being exported as raw materials.

“We want to ensure our minerals are not sold raw, but value is added here in Tanzania to enable them to fully contribute to our economy. This step also aims to ensure Tanzanian jobs remain within the country by increasing local expertise in the gemstone industry,” said Engineer Samamba.

He further noted that the government is constructing an eight-story building in Arusha to strengthen the operations of the TGC, demonstrating its commitment to improving the business environment for the gemstone industry in the country.

On their part, Pukkapon Piantumdee, an executive from Sunset Gem Company, stated that the company specializes in gemstone cutting, polishing, and identification. They expressed optimism about the collaboration, noting that it will provide an opportunity for knowledge and expertise exchange between Thailand and Tanzania.

Thailand’s Expertise in Gemstones

Thailand is globally renowned for its expertise in gemstone cutting, polishing, and trading, with Bangkok serving as a major hub for the global gemstone industry.

The country has decades of experience in transforming raw gemstones into high-value, precision-cut pieces that are highly sought after in international markets.

Thai companies are recognized for their use of advanced technologies, such as laser cutting and precision polishing, which ensure the highest quality standards in gemstone processing.