The organization aims to make the new facility a center for gemological education in Africa

The Gemolgical Institue of America (GIA) has debuted its expanded lab and education center in Gaborone, Botswana.

GIA first established a diamond grading lab in the country in 2008. The facility now employees 95 people, including 65 GIA-trained diamond graders. GIA hopes to make the facility the destination for gemological education in Africa.

On hand for the opening were Kitso Mokaila, Botswana’s minister of minerals, energy, and water resources (pictured, above left); Susan Jacques, GIA’s president and CEO (center); and Earl Miller, U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Botswana (right).

“Botswana plays a significant role in the diamond industry as one of the largest producing countries—both by value and volume,” said Jacques. “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.”

(Photo courtesy of GIA)

JCK