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GIA To Open In Tokyo.
As part of a strategy to expand its international presence, the Gemological Institute of America said the AGT Gem Laboratory in Tokyo will start operations as a GIA LabDirect consolidator on April 2, 2007.
The GIA announced the creation of LabDirect in August as a way to widen access to its laboratory services by setting up an international network of local take-in windows and consolidators to serve more local areas.
"Each consolidator will act as a diamond industry forwarding service by consolidating diamonds from local regions and shipping them to the GIA Laboratory," the GIA said in a March 31, 2007 press statement. "These local drop-off and pick-up shipment points help the maximum number of clients move their goods to the GIA Laboratory to get the services they want in a safe, expedient and cost-effective way," the GIA added.
In addition, the consolidator also prepares the stones for shipping to GIA with an agreed-upon protocol, communicates grading results to the end clients, and is responsible for collecting payment.
Tom Moses, senior vice president of GIA Laboratory and Research said, “GIA is expanding its presence internationally and we want to make our services accessible to more people.”
The Tokyo LabDirect center follows the GIA's opening of a similar center in Hong Kong in early March.
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