Israel seems to be aggressive in formulating ties with rough diamond producing countries and other countries of key importance to its diamond trade. Recently the Israel Diamond Institute (IDI) Managing Director Eli Avidar met with the newly elected President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma to bring for possibilities of an association.%%President Korman mentioned that the two countries did enjoy healthy relationship in the past which he intends to take forward. He said that his government was also exploring ways to educate the people of Sierra Leone to benefit from the diamond industry. Eli Avidar narrated the efforts of the Israel Diamond Institute Group of companies, and of the IDI, in building relations with rough diamond producing countries. He has also extended an invitation to the President to be a keynote speaker at the Third International Rough Diamond Conference, to be held in Tel Aviv on February 11 – 12, 2008.%%Avidar discussed IDI’s rough diamond sourcing activities and the upcoming Conference with Vice President Samuel Sam-Somana. Sam-Somana mentioned that the diamonds were of key significance to his government, which was formulating a policy for diamond mining and trade. Avidar is also scheduled to meet with the Sierra Leone Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources Alhaji Abubakarr Jalloh.