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GIA Opens Expanded Lab and Education Facility in Botswana
Jan 25, 2016 2:17 AM
By Rapaport News
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RAPAPORT... The Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
opened an expanded laboratory and education facility in Gaborone, Botswana,
last week to support its beneficiation efforts in the African nation by
bringing value-added services to gem-producing countries. The expansion
includes more classroom space.
Gem and jewelry industry
leaders and government officials, including U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of
Botswana Earl R. Miller and Botswana’s Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water
Resources Kitso Mokaila, celebrated the opening on January 19.
“Botswana plays a significant role in the diamond industry as
one of the largest producing countries – both by value and volume,” said Susan
Jacques, GIA’s president and CEO. “Much of the benefit of that diamond
production comes from Botswana’s forward-thinking decision to participate in
every possible step of the value chain. It is a great source of pride for me
and for everyone at GIA that we have had the opportunity to support this
ongoing effort.”
The GIA set up a diamond-grading
laboratory in Botswana in 2008. Today the GIA employs 95 people in Gaborone,
including 65 who have been trained by the organization as diamond graders. The GIA is advancing its goal of making
Gaborone the destination for industry-leading gemological education in Africa, it said.
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Tags:
Botswana, diamond grading, education, gaborone, Gemological Institute of America, GIA), Rapaport News
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