NICKY OPPENHEIMER

I don't think Africa gets as much credit as it should have on the world stage. People tend to think of us as coming from The Dark Continent, where nothing good goes on. That's not true. A huge amount of, as I say, entrepreneurship goes on.

Diamonds are a key component in the campaign to make poverty history.

America is a country of entrepreneurship and great business leaders.

We're seeing diamonds coming back into favor.

May I suggest that people in many African countries could be suffering from donation fatigue?

Diamonds are intrinsically worthless, except for the deep psychological need they fill.

It's much nicer to be known as Mr. Nice Guy than Mr. Nasty Guy. But you've got to have lines - and when you hit the line, that's the end of the story, nice guy or not.

I'm a great believer that, if you know how to operate in Africa, there are unbelievable opportunities.

Because I am an African I reserve the right to say that Africa does not exist simply to make people in this country [the UK], or anywhere else in the developed world, feel good about themselves.

The Kimberley Process is not a perfect construct, and it is necessary now to re-double efforts to address its remaining shortcomings and strengthen its provisions.

May I suggest that people in many African countries could be suffering from donation fatigue?

Diamonds are a key component in the campaign to make poverty history.

Businesses need certainty, to see clearly the rules of engagement for investing in South Africa.

Any father likes his son to take over from him if possible.

I don't think Africa gets as much credit as it should have on the world stage. People tend to think of us as coming from The Dark Continent, where nothing good goes on. That's not true. A huge amount of, as I say, entrepreneurship goes on.

I was never a skilled artist or anything like that - never a rebel.

You can get a diamond which is worth 10 cents; you can get a diamond of exactly the same size, which is worth a hundred dollars.

One doesn't necessarily have a mission.

The army taught me to sign my name very quickly, and that's stood me in good stead the rest of my life.

I am one of the affluent rich living the good life. But I like to think that I am doing my bit to resolve the problems of Africa and am certainly committed to Africa in the long run.

I am an African. I live there and my children live there, and as far as I understand, they intend to go on living there.

One likes at the point of production to realize the maximum value, and diamond producers are no different.

The diamond business has always been secretive.

Diamonds are intrinsically worthless, except for the deep psychological need they fill.

America is a country of entrepreneurship and great business leaders.

The Kimberley Process is not a perfect construct, and it is necessary now to re-double efforts to address its remaining shortcomings and strengthen its provisions.

We all need to become more customer-focused and recognize the power of marketing to sell more diamonds.

It is only through developing and maximizing all its natural resources that a sustainable future for Africa and its people can be secured.

We're seeing diamonds coming back into favor.

It's much nicer to be known as Mr. Nice Guy than Mr. Nasty Guy. But you've got to have lines - and when you hit the line, that's the end of the story, nice guy or not.

I'm a great believer that, if you know how to operate in Africa, there are unbelievable opportunities.

Because I am an African I reserve the right to say that Africa does not exist simply to make people in this country [the UK], or anywhere else in the developed world, feel good about themselves.