Rapaport Announces Mission to Sierra Leone

RAPAPORT… The Rapaport Group is organizing a trip to Sierra Leone for members of the diamond and jewelry trade wishing to gain insight into the artisanal mining sector.

The visit will provide an opportunity to meet and interact with the
artisanal digger community in the country. The mission will
promote greater understanding of the role of the artisanal
sector in
the jewelry industry. It will highlight and demonstrate
opportunities
for profitable sustainable economic development available to
the
jewelry industry. It will encourage understanding and
relationship
building between artisanal diggers and the jewelry trade.

Jewelers, dealers, and diamond manufacturers are invited to
register their application for the trip via https://bit.ly/2Hq2iHU.
The mission will be limited to 25 participants due to strict
logistical limitations. For additional information, please
email:
[email protected].

Please note. This is not a diamond buying trip. While
business
connections will be available and encouraged our mission is
to
develop relationships and opportunities for future business
and
development activity. Participants seeking to buy diamonds
in
Sierra Leone may be accommodated after the conclusion of the
mission on Friday April 5. Advanced notice of intention to
buy
is required so that we can ensure compliance with all
government regulations.

Accommodation:

Rapaport will be providing all ground arrangements.
Including hotels, food, transportation, and security. Freetown accommodations
will be in a 4 star hotel. Kono accommodations will be in a 3 star hotel. The
fee for the trip is $2,000 per participant. It includes all ground arrangements but not air travel.

Participant Responsibilities:

All participants will require a Visa, Yellow Fever
vaccination and malaria medication.
The Rapaport Team can assist with obtaining visas and
meeting other requirements.
Official program ends after breakfast Friday. Participants
may wish to extend their stay at their expense. Martin Rapaport will be
remaining in Freetown through Sunday.

Air
Travel:

Air travel to Sierra Leone is limited. Upon acceptance,
participants are advised to contact their travel agent as soon as possible to
ensure that they can reach Sierra Leone by Monday April 1. Martin Rapaport will
be traveling from NY on March 31. Rapaport travel agents can assist with
reservations.

Registration:


Participants should complete the online registration
application as soon as possible. Rapaport will notify applicants that have been
selected for the trip on an ongoing basis. If there are a large number of
applicants efforts will be made to accommodate a second trip. Click here to register.

Itinerary:

Monday

Arrival to Freetown

22:00
Welcome Dinner; Overnight in Freetown.

Tuesday

06:30
Depart to Kono; Visit artisanal digger sites and Koidu city.

17:00
Meet with Diggers and their Associations.

19:30
Dinner with Diggers; Overnight in Kono.

Wednesday

08:00
Depart for Visit to Koryardu Village, meet with community.
Optional hike to location where Peace Diamond was discovered.
Note: This hike can be strenuous and is about 1 hour each way.
Opportunity for participants to experience what diggers do everyday.

12:00
Visit Nimiyama Chiefdom and Village.

14:30
Depart to Freetown.

20:30
Dinner in Freetown; Overnight in Freetown.

Thursday

09:00
Development Diamond Conference with Members of the Artisanal Community.

Discussion about the role of the diamond and jewelry in Sierra Leone.
Meetings with government officials.

12:30
Lunch with members of the artisanal community.

14:00
Tour of Freetown; Shopping.

19:00
Concluding Dinner.

Friday

Departure to Airport.

Image: Artisanal miners in Sierra Leone. (Rapaport News)