Diamond industry raps lack of infrastructure

Out of every 10 diamonds cut and polished in the world, 9 are from India, of which 75 per cent come from Surat where 15 lakh people earn their livelihood from the diamond trade, Dora said, adding that if infrastructural facilities are made available, another five lakh people may be 8220;absorbed in the diamond trade8221; as it has tremendous growth potential.

Inaugurating the workshop, Collector Sangeeta Singh said the government had acquired land for the airport. 8220;Now the government is considering whether to develop the airport as a joint venture or under the private sector8221;, she said, seeking the Chamber8217;s support for expediting the work.

Pointing out that the jewellery industry, which is well developed in Rajkot, should also develop in Surat as it is the centre of the diamond industry, the collector said 8220;considering Surat8217;s industrial development, there is need for starting jewellery design courses in ITIs.8221;

Apart from technological superiority, one should have foresight and planning to survive in the global economy, she stressed.

Speaking about the topics to be discussed during the three-day workshop organised by the SGCCI in collaboration with the Indian Diamond Institute, Surat, Chandrakant Sanghvi, convenor of the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council, said 8220;due to lack of infrastructural facilities, the city is missing a considerable amount of value addition.8221;

Sanghvi, who is also a leading diamond exporter of Surat, reiterated that the city should have an airport to attract foreign buyers. The city should also have an Institute of Jewellery. Unfortunately, instead of Surat, the Institute is being set up in Hyderabad, he regretted.

FICCI ladies Organisation president Anjana Somany, chief guest of the inaugural function, said there is no need to feel threatened because of Andhra Pradesh setting up a Jewellery Training Institute. 8220;Let Andhra Pradesh set up a training institute, let Surat also have its training institute8221;, she said.

Surat Diamond Association president Devshibhai Bhadiyadra said 8220;whenever I interact with foreigners, the only thing they say is you do not have an airport8221;. Given international level facilities, 8220;Surat is capable of competing with any country8221;, he said.

B K Puri, Hanns Seidel Foundation8217;s representative in India, spoke about the Foundation8217;s activities, and its projects in the areas of community development, education, health and environment awareness, management training and institute building.

The topics for the three-day workshop are: current jem stones, jewellery designing and manufacturing, and promotion of the jewellery industry.