MOU with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Mines: A Leap Toward Gemological Excellence

On February 20, 2023, WGF Project Africa, under a collaborative agreement with the World Gem Foundation formalized a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Mines (MoM). This agreement marked a critical step toward building Ethiopia’s—and East Africa’s— first Gemological Centre of Excellence and gem testing laboratory— retaining Africa’s gem wealth on the continent by Training 500+ Ethiopian gemologists by 2026 and establishing a central Lab for the country.

The agreement signing was formalized by Mr. Geoffrey Dominy, CEO and Founder of the WGF, alongside Dr. Guta Legese Director of the MIDI , marking a pivotal step in advancing the country’s gemological capabilities.

he MOU established a joint venture between AGTI and the Ethiopian government to launch:

Africa’s First Gemological “Centre of Excellence” – A world-class training hub for gemologists and lapidaries.
State-of-the-Art Gem Testing Laboratory – Developed in partnership with Ethiopia’s Mineral Industry Development Institute (MIDI) and Geoscience Laboratory, offering locally accessible, reliable gem grading and valuation services.

The short term Goal

Skills Development – Training Ethiopian gemologists to WGF international standards, reducing reliance on foreign expertise.
Economic Growth – Moving Ethiopia up the gem value chain, increasing export revenues from cut and certified stones.
Fraud Prevention – The lab will combat misidentification and undervaluation, ensuring fair prices for miners and traders.
Job Creation – Opportunities for miners, cutters, appraisers, and jewelers across the supply chain. by having

Ethiopian gem certification, Gemology training Africa,

The Vision: From Ethiopia to the Continent

This MOU was Phase 1 of Project Africa’s mission to build a self-sufficient African gem industry. Future steps include:

Expanding training programs to artisanal miners and small businesses.
Introducing blockchain traceability to ensure ethical sourcing and transparency.
Replicating the model in other African nations to create a pan-African gem certification network.

Why This Matters

Ethiopia is home to world-renowned gemstones like opals, emeralds, and sapphires, yet much of its potential remains untapped due to limited local expertise and infrastructure. This partnership directly addresses these gaps by:

Empowering Local Talent: Training Ethiopian gemologists and lapidaries to international standards (WGF-certified programs).
Boosting Export Value: Moving Ethiopia up the value chain—from raw gemstone exports to finished, certified stones.
Fighting Fraud: The lab’s certification services will combat misidentification and undervaluation of Ethiopian gems.
Creating Jobs: From miners to cutters, the initiative supports Ethiopia’s mining sector workforce.

The Road Ahead

This MOU was Phase 1 of Project Africa’s broader mission to democratize gemological expertise across Africa. Future phases include:

Expanding training programs to artisanal miners and small-scale enterprises.
Integrating blockchain-based traceability for ethical sourcing.
Replicating the model in other East African nations.