Following a series of very high-level meetings and discussions with officials from Tanzania, which closed late last week, Horizons Political Consulting Agency concluded an agreement whereby the Montreal-based partnership will have exclusivity over the international marketing and distribution of tanzanite. The stone, which, in appearance resembles a cross between sapphire and amethyst, can only be found in Arusha, Tanzania and was first discovered in 1967. Though it is far more rare than diamonds, it will very shortly be extremely trendy and highly sought after - Horizons will be establishing a firm link between tanzanite and at least one European royal house.
Ken Fernandez, Executive Director of Horizons said “We have already ready made arrangements for tanzanite to be featured prominently at a number of high profile events, in Canada and around the world, and already have a South African t.v./pop star lined up to do the needful. In fact, arrangements are underway to have her perform here probably in conjunction with one, if not two, of our prestigious festivals.” Fernandez went on to say that the tanzanite Horizons will be marketing, is mined by the co-operative which aims to bring about social and economic improvements to their community, by spreading the benefits of sales on an equitable basis. The Horizons team, all of whom worked very hard on this project, will be putting its vast network of contacts around the globe to good use, for the benefit of the Tanzanian [co-operative] producers, which have had difficulty competing with AFGEM, the South African company which owns one mining block and which has been alleged to have engaged in the killing of miners from the co-op and which imposes a minimum order of $100,000. Interestingly enough, Horizons, which, does not impose a minimum purchase, has already interested a prestigious Montreal jewellery wholesaler, as well as a consortium of European jewellers interested in large-scale purchasing, and forsees concluding formal arrangements within the next few weeks.
The consultancy, which is also concluding arrangements over luxury spirits from certain parts of the former USSR - drinks of choice of the Tsars, Stalin, the Politburo, is in the process of finalizing arrangements such that the very finest line of the liqueurs will be fused with the rare gem in a special collector's series on time for the Christmas rush.

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Source: Horizons Press Release
November 2003
(Please credit Europa Star)