Rapaport Announces Mission to Sierra Leone

RAPAPORT... The Rapaport Group is organizing a trip to Sierra Leone for members of the diamond and jewelry trade wishing to gain insight into the artisanal mining sector.The visit will provide an opportunity to meet and interact with theartisanal digger community in the country. The mission willpromote greater understanding of the role of the artisanalsector inthe jewelry industry. It will highlight and demonstrateopportunitiesfor profitable sustainable economic development available tothejewelry industry. It will encourage understanding andrelationshipbuilding between artisanal diggers and the jewelry trade.Jewelers, dealers, and diamond manufacturers are invited toregister their application for the trip via https://bit.ly/2Hq2iHU.The mission will be limited to 25 participants due to strictlogistical limitations. For additional information, pleaseemail:SLTrip@Rapaport.com.Please note. This is not a diamond buying trip. Whilebusinessconnections will be available and encouraged our mission istodevelop relationships and opportunities for future businessanddevelopment activity. Participants seeking to buy diamondsinSierra Leone may be accommodated after the conclusion of themission on Friday April 6. Advanced notice of intention tobuyis required so that we can ensure compliance with allgovernment regulations.Accommodation:Rapaport will be providing all ground arrangements.Including hotels, food, transportation, and security. Freetown accommodationswill be in a 4 star hotel. Kono accommodations will be in a 3 star hotel. Thefee for the trip is $2,000 per participant. It includes all ground arrangements but not air travel.Participant Responsibilities:All participants will require a Visa, Yellow Fevervaccination and malaria medication.The Rapaport Team can assist with obtaining visas andmeeting other requirements.Official program ends after breakfast Friday. Participantsmay wish to extend their stay at their expense. Martin Rapaport will beremaining in Freetown through Sunday. AirTravel: Air travel to Sierra Leone is limited. Upon acceptance,participants are advised to contact their travel agent as soon as possible toensure that they can reach Sierra Leone by Monday April 1. Martin Rapaport willbe traveling from NY on March 31. Rapaport travel agents can assist withreservations. Registration:Participants should complete the online registrationapplication as soon as possible. Rapaport will notify applicants that have beenselected for the trip on an ongoing basis. If there are a large number ofapplicants efforts will be made to accommodate a second trip. Click here to register.Itinerary:MondayArrival to Freetown22:00Welcome Dinner; Overnight in Freetown. Tuesday06:30Depart to Kono; Visit artisanal digger sites and Koidu city. 17:00Meet with Diggers and their Associations. 19:30Dinner with Diggers; Overnight in Kono. Wednesday08:00Depart for Visit to Koryardu Village, meet with community.Optional hike to location where Peace Diamond was discovered.Note: This hike can be strenuous and is about 1 hour each way.Opportunity for participants to experience what diggers do everyday. 12:00Visit Nimiyama Chiefdom and Village. 14:30Depart to Freetown. 20:30Dinner in Freetown; Overnight in Freetown. Thursday09:00Development Diamond Conference with Members of the Artisanal Community. Discussion about the role of the diamond and jewelry in Sierra Leone.Meetings with government officials. 12:30Lunch with members of the artisanal community. 14:00Tour of Freetown; Shopping. 19:00Concluding Dinner. FridayDeparture to Airport.Image: Artisanal miners in Sierra Leone. (Rapaport News)