According to announcements, Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA) very own laboratory has been set up in Johannesburg, South Africa and operations will commence on February 21. Prior to this, GIA provided lab assistance through the Jewelry Council of South Africa lab which it absorbed in 2007.%%GIA Laboratory and Research senior vice president Thomas Moses said “GIA is moving quickly to bring its services to our global clients. Here in Johannesburg we will initially provide GIA diamond dossiers, which cover stones ranging from 0.15 carats up to 1.99 carats.”%%“The institute will eventually offer classes, seminars, scholarships and other aspects of the Institute here as well, ” he mentioned. The announcement also stated that GIA’s Johannesburg lab would also serve as a take-in window for any service other than the Diamond Dossier report. Also, GIA has been granted a value-added tax (VAT) exemption and such services will not be subject to the traditional fee for shipping stones outside of South Africa for servicing.