De Beers on Friday provided an update of its supply arrangements in southern Africa.

In Namibia, De Beers will supply up to $300 million worth of diamonds in Namibialocally by 2009, representing close to 5% of Namibia`s GDP, its London-based Diamond Trading Company (DTC) said.

Currently, the company is in the process of selecting clients for local supplies. It said all applicants will be informed by the new Namibia/ DTC(NDTC) of their status early October.

Supply to selected clients in Namibiawill begin later in October.

In Botswana, DTCBotswana (DTCB) is expected to be fully operational by early 2008, with the objective of achieving sales of $550 million per annum for local cutting in Botswanaby the end of the decade, it said.

Those clients, or sightholders who have factories, are currently being supplied by the London-based DTCInternational (DTCI).

DTCBotswana (DTCB) will announce its client list in mid-December and at the same time as DTCI announces its new list. Supplies by DTCBotswana to its clients will begin in January 2008.

South African sightholders, who will continue to receive supply from DTCI, will be told of their status in the middle of December. The new contract period will begin 31st March 2008.