Surat: Over 135 diamond companies, including 26 from Mumbai, are inaugurating their offices at Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) today. This adds to the presence of 983 diamond merchants who established their shops at SDB on Dussehra.

On Monday, the State Bank of India also commenced operations at the bourse.

Traders express optimism that business will gain momentum once SDB, set to be inaugurated on December 17, achieves full operational status.

Dinesh Navadia, SDB’s media convenor said, “In the current recession period, once the offices are opened, business will start coming. This will also give momentum to the diamond business.”

Built at a cost of Rs 3,200 crore with the objective of expanding the diamond trading industry, the bourse occupies an area of 66 lakh square feet in DREAM (Diamond Research and Mercantile) City. Designed by Delhi-based Morphogenesis, the bourse is claimed to surpass the world’s largest office space—the Pentagon of the United States.

SDB boasts 4,200 offices, varying in size from 300 square feet to 75,000 square feet. DeshGujarat