Rapaport Proposes Sierra Leone Diamond Reform

RAPAPORT PRESS
RELEASE, April 17, 2019, New York … The Rapaport Trade Mission to Sierra Leone
attracted a strong group of 29 international diamantaires and jewelers. Participants were from the
US, India, UAE, UK, Switzerland, Turkey, Canada, Spain, and Israel. For many,
the trip was transformative as they visited the diggers in their villages and
came face to face with the challenges and opportunities confronting the
artisanal digger communities.

Two days
were spent up-country in Kono, where the group met with the paramount chiefs,
visited diggers and digging sites, and had dinner with 50 members of the Kono
District Miners Union. A highlight of the trip was the visit to Koryardu, the
village where the Peace Diamond was discovered. A new medical center, school,
and road are being constructed. For the first time, clean water, sanitation,
and electricity will be provided. The group had lunch with the Alluvial Diamond
and Gold Miners Association and members of the local Lebanese community.

The last
day of the mission featured a Development Diamond Conference in Freetown with
presentations by the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Dr. Morie Manyeh, and the
Minister of Trade and Industry, Peter Conteh, as well as an evening reception
at the home of US Ambassador Maria E. Brewer.

During
the visit, Martin Rapaport, Chairman of the Rapaport Group, presented a
proposal to the government of Sierra Leone, providing a systematic and
sustainable business model that will optimize the benefit of Sierra Leone’s
alluvial diamonds for the diggers, their communities, and the government. Click
here for the proposal.

“The
diamond diggers of Sierra Leone are as much a part of our industry as the
leading jewelers. This mission created new channels of communication and
understanding as it recognized the responsibility our trade has to the less
fortunate artisanal community. We believe in and are committed to creating
opportunities for sustainable economic development that will transform the
lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Sierra Leone. We thank all those
that joined us on this mission,” said Martin Rapaport.

Media Contacts: [email protected]

US: Sherri Hendricks +1-702-893-9400
Global: Avital Engelberg +1-718-521-4976 

About the Rapaport Group:
The
Rapaport Group is a global provider of added-value services that support the
development of ethical, transparent, competitive and efficient diamond and
jewelry markets. Established in 1978, the Rapaport Price List is the primary
source of diamond price and market information. Group activities include
Rapaport Information and Research Services, Rapaport Magazine, and the
Diamonds.net portal; RapNet,
the world’s largest diamond trading network; RapLab diamond grading services;
and Rapaport Trading and Auction Services, specializing in recycled diamonds
and jewelry. The Group supports over 20,000 clients in 121 countries and has
offices in New York, Las Vegas, Antwerp, Ramat Gan, Mumbai, Surat and Hong
Kong. Additional information is available at www.diamonds.net.

Image: Participants in the trade mission meeting locals in Freetown, Sierra Leone. (Rapaport News)