On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Surat Diamond Bourse, marking the commencement of the world’s largest and most advanced center for international diamond and jewelry trade. The inauguration took place shortly after the unveiling of a new integrated terminal building at Surat airport. The terminal is designed to handle 1,200 domestic passengers and 600 international passengers during peak hours, with provisions to increase the peak-hour capacity to 3,000 passengers, leading to an annual handling capacity of 55 lakh passengers.
Situated at Khajod village near Surat city, the Surat Diamond Bourse building is a monumental structure, boasting more than 67 lakh square feet of floor space. Functioning as a global hub for both rough and polished diamonds, as well as jewelry, the bourse is expected to play a pivotal role in the international diamond and jewelry business.
Key features of the Surat Diamond Bourse include:
– A state-of-the-art ‘Customs Clearance House’ for efficient import and export processes.
– A dedicated jewelry mall catering to retail jewelry businesses.
– Facilities for international banking services and secure vaults.
Several diamond traders, including those previously based in Mumbai, have already taken possession of their allotted offices following the auction, according to Dinesh Navadiya, the media convener for Surat Diamond Bourse.
As part of the larger Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City project, the Surat Diamond Bourse was initiated with the groundbreaking ceremony performed by former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel in February 2015. The mega-structure, occupying a 35.54-acre plot within the DREAM City, comprises nine towers of 15 floors each, accommodating nearly 4,500 diamond trading offices. With a vast floor space of 67 lakh square feet, the Surat Diamond Bourse now stands as the world’s largest office building dedicated to the diamond trade. Office spaces within the structure range from 300 sq ft to 1 lakh sq ft.
