Emaxon Polishing plant in Kananga, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has been operational for several months, will soon go into full production announced Dan Gertler, President of the DGI Group of Companies, based in Tel Aviv, Israel, on November 8,2005. The construction of the plant had begun in August 2004 and was completed in less than 12 months. In the first phase, the plant will employ more than 300 employees, all of whom received professional training at the plant in polishing diamonds. When the plant is fully operational, the state-of-the-art diamond polishing technique, the first of its kind in the DRC and Central Africa, will employ as many as 600 workers. Diamonds mined in DRC will be polish in this plant to be sold locally, and export to the leading markets in the world. This will indirectly inject hundreds of thousands of dollars into the Kananga economy on a monthly basis. The plant is fully equipped with state-of-the art sawing, bruting, and polishing tables. The completion of this project, which is one of many DGI Group of Companies investments in the DRC, reaches beyond economic boundaries.

The Emaxon Polishing plant has already had an immediate social impact on Kananga, the capital of Kasa� Occidental Province, Central DRC. In addition, the creation of the polishing plant and the planned transfer of technology, which will take place, in part, in the plant�s polishing and cutting training school, have the potential to create the foundation for long-term sustainable development in the region. "This outstanding investment will have a positive, far-reaching, and large social and economic impact on Kananga, Kasa� Occidental Province, and the greater DRC," stated Kasa� Occidental Province Governor Claudel Lubaya, who was instrumental in bringing the plant to Kananga. "President Kabilas leadership has changed the business climate throughout the country, putting faith in international investors, which I believe has made this DGI investment a reality," explained Governor Lubaya. "Kananga is a remote place in Africa that is in need of more local and international investment. We look forward to others following DGIs bold lead and investing in the Congolese population and the future of our country.

The DGI Group of Companies has been operating in the DRC for more than five years, through its subsidiary Emaxon Finance International, who markets 88% of the DRCs largest diamond mine, MIBA. DGI recently provided US$15 million to finance the purchase of a new kimberlite washing plant which will boost MIBAs diamond production to 8.5 million carats in a year. Emaxon is working closely with the Ministry of Mines and the Centre d Evaluation et dExpertise de Matieres Precieuses au Congo (CEEC) to ensure that the polishing plant is in compliance with domestic and international regulations, including the Kimberly Process. It is the largest employer in Kananga. The Emaxon Polishing plant, will advance to full production only when the DRC Parliament finalizes legislation relating to the export of polished diamonds. "Its a great day for the Democratic Republic of Congo and for Central Africa to finally enter downstream of the diamond production process," said Joseph Kabila DRC President, "The trend to add value in the country of origin is a growing development in diamond producing countries in sub Saharan Africa and we welcome DGIs investment in the DRC to that end."