Abdoulaye Ndiaye


Abdoulaye Ndiaye is a Senegalese businessman and entrepreneur based in Kitwe, Zambia.

Early life

Abdoulaye was born in 1952, in Medina Gounass village in Senegal. He is commonly known as Gounass. He went to an Islamic school in Medina Gounass. 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. He settled in Kitwe where he established his other businesses. Abdoulaye has been married several times and has 13 children. 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.

Career

Abdoulaye started his career by buying and selling of emeralds. In 1997 he purchased an emerald mine on the Copperbelt of Zambia. The major product that Abdoulaye's mine produces is raw and partially processed emeralds and beryl. 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. The Zambian and Brazilian Emeralds may also be coloured due to the presence of vanadium, whereas Colombian Emeralds usually achieve their coloration from the presence of chromium.
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.

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 works throughout the district. Gemcanton is the principal sponsor of Afrisport Club from 2012, which is now playing in Division 2. Kitwe United were sponsored up to December 2012.

Grizzly Mining

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