GIA President Donna Baker Photo by Michael Justice

This is a pivotal year for GIA. Earlier this summer, we announced plans to open a laboratory and expand our educational programs in Johannesburg, South Africa. Since then, we have incorporated the laboratory operations of the Jewelry Council of South Africa (JCSA) and welcome them as the newest member of the GIA Lab Direct Network.

JCSA Executive Director Leslie (Les) Milner will take on the role as director of the GIA Johannesburg Laboratory, which will operate as a take-in window or consolidator for GIA and its customers, accepting submissions from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. A team of JCSA diamond graders will train in the U.S. this fall, and the GIA South Africa Laboratory in Johannesburg will formally open in early 2008. Service will initially be limited to the GIA Diamond Dossier®, but will eventually provide services for all sizes and types of diamonds, colored stones and pearls.

Our Bangkok, Thailand, expansion is also on track and on target. Plans are in place to add diamond grading services to our state-of-the-art research facility in Bangkok this fall. Kenneth Scarratt and his team are taking in stones for training and have signed a lease for an additional 1,500 square feet of lab space. New equipment, communications systems and security measures are being procured, and plans are in place for the first round of U.S. staff to temporarily relocate to Bangkok.

These exciting programs are just the first phase of a comprehensive plan based on intensive market studies and in direct response to numerous requests from regional government and trade leaders who have asked GIA to increase its presence. We see them as one more aspect of our mission to uphold the most stringent industry standards worldwide.

I am sure you share in my enthusiasm as we embark on this exciting new chapter in GIA's proud history!