School of Gemology Underway in Congo
March 15, 11(IDEX Online News) - IGI plans to open a school of gemology in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The project was announced following an agreement it signed with the Centre of Expertise, Evaluation and Certification of Precious Minerals and Semi-precious Stones of Congo (CEEC).
The two decided to initiate the project under the sponsorship of the European Union (EU), the Coordinator of the European Fund for Development (COFED) and the Platform for Governance Support (PAG).
IGI said there is a vital need for high-level professional gemological education in the DRC, a leading global diamond producer. A school of gemology will improve the country's mineral revenue collection, said IGI CEO Roland Lorié.
After several months of preliminary training in Antwerp, IGI will deploy a group of experts to assist the CEEC under the guidance of the EU and the PAG. These representatives will utilize IGI methodology and establish several defined stages of preparation prior to the school’s opening, the lab added.