IDI Managing Director met with Sierra Leone President

Israel Diamond Institute (IDI) Managing Director Eli Avidar met today with the newly elected President of Sierra Leone, Dr.Ernest Korman. The President said that he was pleased to host this meeting. Avidar commended the President on the peaceful transfer of power following the last elections in Sierra Leone, which he said serves as a model of democracy much appreciated by the international community.

President Korman also said that in the past the two countries had enjoyed warm relations and he expressed his wish that these relations would be renewed. Concerning diamonds, the President said that he and his government were studying the subject and seeking ways to enable the people of Sierra Leone to benefit from this natural resource.

Eli Avidar presented to the President the activities of the Israel Diamond Institute Group of companies, and especially the efforts of IDI in forging relations with rough diamond producing countries. Avidar invited President Korman to participate in the Third International Rough Diamond Conference, which will be held in Tel Aviv on February 11 – 12, 2008, and to be a keynote speaker at the Conference.

President Korman said that he recognized the importance of this event and will make every effort to change his plans to include participation in the Conference. He said that if he is not able to attend because of meetings abroad he would send a high ranking delegation headed by a senior minister.

Avidar also met with Vice President Samuel Sam-Somana, with whom he discussed IDI’s rough diamond sourcing activities and the upcoming Rough Diamond Conference. The Vice President stressed that diamonds are of great importance to his government and to him personally. He said that the government was engaged in formulating policy concerning diamond mining and trade.

Tomorrow Avidar is scheduled to meet with the Sierra Leone Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources Alhaji Abubakarr Jalloh.

IDI Group Chairman Moti Ganz said that beginning in January 2007 the Institute had begun to implement a strategic decision to cement ties with governments of rough diamond producing countries, as well as with other countries of importance to the diamond industry.

In June 2007 we met with the relevant officials in China, in November 2007 we hosted the President of Liberia and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Liberian Minister of Mines. On February 11 and 12, 2008 we will host the Third International Rough Diamond Conference in Tel Aviv, and have received confirmation of attendance by at least six ministers from prominent rough producing countries, and others are expected to participate as well. We intend to continue to pursue this activity for the benefit of the Israeli Diamond Industry, in order to provide a response to the changes taking place in the global rough diamond market.

Story link: IDI Managing Director met with Sierra Leone President