Nestled in India’s western tapestry, Surat, a city woven with ancient threads, shimmers as the crown jewel of the diamond trade. Since the 1960s, its artisans have transformed rough stones into dazzling brilliance, carving a name for Surat as the world’s largest diamond-cutting and polishing haven. Now, with the glistening SDB rising from its heart, Surat promises to rewrite the script of the global diamond industry, a dazzling testament to its enduring legacy.

The Surat Diamond Bourse

Diamonds glisten under the Indian sun as the Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB), a colossal gem in the heart of Dream City, reigns supreme as the world’s largest diamond hub. Its sprawling 6,60,000 square meters eclipse even the mighty Pentagon, offering a dazzling home to diamond artisans and merchants. The centre is a one-stop destination for over 65,000 diamond professionals, including cutters, polishers and traders. 

Within its gleaming walls, a self-contained ecosystem pulsates. Cut and polished stones find their perfect trading floors while retail dreams shimmer in the jewel mall. Customs dance with diamonds, international banks keep the pulse steady, and secure vaults cradle untold riches. Every facet of the diamond journey finds its haven here, making the bourse a glittering one-stop shop for this glittering trade.

Efficiency weaves into the very fabric of the building. Corridors echo with the purposeful steps of a bustling terminal, connecting merchants with their destiny. Sunlight filters through self-shading blocks, painting the air with comfort for the thousands who call this diamond city their workplace.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, himself a witness to its dazzling emergence, inaugurated the bourse on December 17, 2023. He sees in it not just a testament to Surat’s ascent but a beacon of India’s diamond prowess on the global stage. SDB, a masterpiece of ambition and precision, is a shimmering promise of a future where Indian diamonds rule the world.

Diamond History Of Surat

Surat embarked on its significant role in the diamond sector during the initial decades of the 1900s, initiated by a regional entrepreneur who introduced diamond cutters from East Africa to lay the foundation for the city’s diamond polishing sector. As time progressed, the industry experienced consistent growth, with contributors from the Patel community in Saurashtra and the Jain community in North Gujarat collaborating to advance Surat’s diamond trade.

Today, Surat is responsible for cutting a staggering 92% of the world’s diamonds, earning India a substantial $15 billion in diamond exports. The city’s diamond industry contributes to over 80% of India’s annual gem and jewellery exports, amounting to a staggering Rs 70,000 crore. Surat has become the heart of the nation’s diamond polishing industry with its skilled labour force and international market access.

Key Features Of The Surat Diamond Bourse

The SDB has an environment conducive to innovation and collaboration and has significant key features that make it stand at the pinnacle of the global diamond trading industry.

●      Infrastructure: The SSB is an architectural marvel designed to accommodate the needs of the diamond industry. The SDB spans over 7.1 million square feet and occupies 35.3 acres of land; the bourse has surpassed even the Pentagon in size. The bourse has nine interconnected towers, each raising ground plus 15 floors and housing 4,500 diamond trading offices ranging from 300 to 7,500 square feet.

●      Geographic Location: The bourse is located in Khajod village near Surat city and is a 2-minute drive from the Surat Airport, providing easy accessibility for industry professionals from all around the world and facilitating a seamless transaction with the global diamond market.

●      End-to-end Solution: The bourse will provide end-to-end solutions for all diamond needs, from rough and polished diamonds to certification labs, cutting-edge machinery, and high-end retail outlets. The SDB offers a one-stop-shop ecosystem for all aspects of the global diamond industry.

Impact on the Global Diamond Industry

The Surat Diamond Bourse is set to revolutionise the global diamond industry significantly, which will bring a new era of innovation, efficiency, and unparalleled opportunities for the growth of India in the global diamond industry.

• Foreign Trade and Investments: Its location in Surat, which is also known as the hub of diamond cutting and polishing, is set to attract major international players and boost foreign investment and trade.
• Operational Efficiency and Cost-effectiveness: The sum of all diamond trade activities within the bourse will also increase efficiency and reduce overall costs.
• Employment Creation: The SDB is set to generate over 1,50,000 new jobs and provide significant employment opportunities for skilled workforce within the city and from around the world.
• Increased Diamond Exports: The SDB is also expected to boost the country’s overall diamond exports and further solidify its position in the world.  
• Diversity and Transparency: The bourse offers a centralised infrastructure and strict regulations that ensure fair trade practices, ethical sourcing and a wide range of options for buyers.

A Glittering Future For Surat

The SDB stands as a monument to more than just stone and steel. It embodies the metamorphosis of a city, the transformation of Surat from a regional hub into a dazzling player on the global diamond stage. Its world-class infrastructure and comprehensive facilities are not merely bricks and mortar; they are the beating heart of a new ecosystem, a promise of a future where Surat shines brighter than ever before.

The bourse is a testament not just to Surat’s rich heritage in the realm of precious gems but also to its unwavering commitment to excellence. It whispers a song of resilience, its very existence a tangible step towards India’s vision of becoming a global power. Prime Minister Modi’s inauguration wasn’t merely a formality; it was a recognition of the bourse’s potential to rewrite the very narrative of the diamond industry. And as its doors swing open to the world, we witness the dawn of a new era, an era where Surat shimmers as a beacon of ambition.