De Beers, established in 1888, is the world’s leading diamond company with unrivalled expertise in the exploration, mining and marketing of diamonds. De Beers, and its joint venture partners, operate across five continents, employing approximately 16,000 people. From its mining operations across Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Canada, De Beers produces and markets approximately 40 percent of the world’s supply of rough diamonds. As part of the company’s operating philosophy, the people of De Beers are committed to "Living up to Diamonds" by making a lasting contribution to the communities in which they live and work. In the countries in which we have mining operations, this means carrying out profitable business, whilst at the same time helping Governments achieve their aspirations of turning natural resources into shared national wealth. De Beers encourages sustainable working to ensure long-term positive development for Africa, and returns approximately US$4.7 billion to the continent every year.