Economist Robin Sherbourne has advised Namibia to consider buying out Namdeb and selling its high-quality natural diamonds independently of the De Beers system. Namdeb (Namibia De Beers), the country’s largest diamond producer, is co-owned by the government and international conglomerate De Beers. The price of natural diamonds have fallen dramatically in the past four years due to competition from laboratory-grown diamonds. Let’s perhaps break away from the De Beers system, cut some deals with the Indian diamond cutters and polishers, and go our own way as a very exclusive, niche natural diamond producer,” he said. Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) founding chief executive Kennedy Hamutenya believes natural diamonds have a future as a niche luxury good.