Botswana's Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Onkokame Kitso Mokaila, is leading a high-level government delegation in Surat this week to visit the Indian Diamond Institute (IDI) there and to further the countries' partnership in establishing a similar diamond institute in Botswana, reports The Times of India.

Two years ago, a joint action plan was created between India and the African Union (AU) in which the IDI was selected as the implementing agency for setting up the India-Africa Diamond Institute in Botswana, reports the news source. The institute, to be the first of its kind in Africa, will be run by experts from the IDI, which was established in 1978. The new entity will reportedly have facilities that will offer training in diamond and jewelry manufacturing, gemology and diamond grading, among other educational services.

"Botswana has become the diamond trading capital of the world after De Beers shifted its operation from London. It is a matter of great pride for us that the IDI has been appointed as the implementing agency for setting up the diamond institute in Botswana," IDI Chairman Aagam Sanghavi told The Times of India.

According to Sanghavi, the MoU between India, the African Union and Botswana is likely to be signed within the next four months, and the institute could be set up in Botswana within the next year and a half.