The Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) completed a two-week program that trained five African nationals in the evaluation of rough and polished diamonds. The program is a part of the �Develop Africa� initiative launched by the DDE to promote development in the diamond-producing countries of Africa. The participants, who were from Sierra Leone, Ghana and Liberia, received certificates from the International Gemological Institute (IGI).

�The clear understanding we now have of the link between rough and polished diamonds in the value chain will enable us to implement better pricing strategies,� said Henry Osei, a metallurgist with the Precision Metals Marketing Company, Ghana. Mohamed Jabbie, a human-rights activist from Sierra Leone, said he would use the expertise he had gained to train local diamond miners in his country. �This program will enable my people to correctly evaluate what they have mined and will help protect them from any kind of exploitation,� he said.

�Sustained development in the African diamond industry can only take place with the development of professional expertise among nationals in diamond-producing countries,� remarked Ahmed bin Sulayem, deputy chairman, DDE. �The participants provided us with valuable feedback that will help us to improve the course further,� said DDE chief executive officer Noora Jamsheer. �We are keen to make this training an ongoing initiative so that it reaches more diamond professionals across the globe,� she added.