Abdoulaye Ndiaye (businessman)

Abdoulaye Ndiaye
Born
Abdoulaye Ndiaye

(1952-03-15) 15 March 1952 (age 72)
Medina Gounass, Senegal
OccupationEntrepreneur gemologists
Years active1972-present

Abdoulaye "Gounass" Ndiaye (born 15 March 1952) is a Senegalese businessman and entrepreneur based in Kitwe, Zambia.[1][2]

Career

Abdoulaye's companies have created employment and business opportunities for more than 800 people in Zambia and Senegal, this in turn contributes significantly towards government revenue, in terms of various taxes.[3][4]

Abdoulaye came to Zambia in 1972 and started his business of buying and selling of emeralds from Lufwanya on the Copperbelt of Zambia until he bought an emerald mine in 1997.[1][5] The major product that Abdoulaye's mine produces is raw and partially processed emeralds and beryl[2] (Zambian emeralds often have a distinct shade of bluish-tinged green[6]).

Abdoulaye is also a principal shareholder in International companies such as Ontario Group of Companies S.A., a real estate company based in Dakar, Senegal, and Gounasse International Inc., a company involved in real estate as well as in the hospitality industry.[7]

Gemcanton

Gemcanton is based in Kitwe and owned by Abdoulaye. The company contributes in gemstone mining including emerald and beryl production.

The company focuses on improving the lives of indigenous people residing within the vicinity of mine-sites. Gemcanton has invested in education by constructing two community schools in the district, one of which has since been handed over to the Ministry of Education. The company is involved in the annual road maintenance throughout the district.[8] Gemcanton is the principal sponsor of Kitwe Afrisport Club since 2012, which is now playing in division 2. Kitwe United were sponsored up to December 2012.[9]

Grizzly Mining

Grizzly Mining Limited was incorporated as mining company by Abdoulaye in 1997 and subsequently other companies were incorporated.[5] The company is headquartered at Kitwe. Grizzly Mining Limited is engaged in the production, processing, grading, marketing and supply of emeralds and beryl.[10][11]

Zambian emeralds

Zambian emeralds tend to have more of a bluish cast than either Brazilian or Colombian emeralds, and tend towards a slight grayish cast, which is not present in either Colombian or Brazilian emeralds.[6]

Zambian and Brazilian emeralds may also be coloured by trace vanadium, whereas Colombian emeralds usually are colored by trace chromium.[1][3]

Personal life

Abdoulaye was born in 1952, in the village of Médina Gounass, Senegal, where he attended an Islamic school. His nickname "Gounass", is from the town where he grew up.

After the purchase of his emerald mine, Abdoulaye settled in Kitwe, Zambia, where he established his other businesses.

Abdoulaye has been married several times and has 13 children.

References

  1. ^ a b c
    Article via Bloomberg news agency (original publisher):
    Hill, Matthew; Biesheuvel, Thomas; Kisting, Denver; Mitimingi, Taonga Clifford (1 June 2017). "Israeli diamond billionaire Leviev adds Zambia emeralds to diamond portfolio". Bloomberg. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
    Same article re-published in Yahoo News:
    Hill, Matthew; Biesheuvel, Thomas; Kisting, Denver; Mitimingi, Taonga Clifford (1 June 2017). "Zambia produced 74.7 metric tons of emerald and beryl". Yahoo News. Bloomberg. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Bells produce the gems". Mining Magazine. HighBeam Research. 1 June 2000. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2021. Production at Pirala, one of Zambia's major emerald producers, started in early June last year. The mine, located some 65 km west of Kitwe, is 50%-owned by Grizzly Mining, a subsidiary of the Gounasse International Group.
  3. ^ a b B.O. Report (PDF). Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (Report) (final ed.). Zambia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (ZEITI). 15 July 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  4. ^ Ministere de l'economie et des finances (5 January 2011). "Arrete ministeriel n° 228 mef-dgid-dedt en date du 5 janvier 2011" [Ministerial decree nr 228 MEF-DGID-DEDT of 5 January 2011]. Journal officiel de Senegal (Press release). Senegal. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  5. ^ a b Robinson, Albert (4 June 2017). "Diamond mogul Leviev buys 50% of Zambian emerald mine". Idex Online. Newsroom. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Emerald prices have soared by more than tenfold in the past eight years" (PDF). Securities Africa. Weekly African Footprint. 2 June 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Israeli diamond billionaire Leviev buys into Zambia emerald mine". Mining Weekly (Africa ed.). Creamer Media. Bloomberg. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017. Grizzly was previously 85% owned by Abdoulaye Ndiaye, according to the Zambia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
  8. ^ "Company overview of Gemcanton Investments Holdings Limited". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Grizzly Mining gives Afrisport K500,000". Zambia Daily Mail. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  10. ^ Phiri, Davy (2013–2014) [last post c. 31 December 2014]. "Grizzly Mining Ltd. for sale". Xinhai / Ore Dressing (website defunct) ((¿business blog? news release?)). Grizzly Mining Ltd. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2021. Ndiaye is the owner of Grizzly Mining Zambia — Appears to be old, posted news announcements from a personnel manager of Grizzly Mining Ltd. to a defunct website of a mining equipment manufacturer.
  11. ^ "Grizzly Mining Ltd. is Zambia's leading gemstone mining company. Incorporated in 1999". Winne. e‑Biz Guides / Zambia. 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2017.