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.