Surat: Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi on Sunday expressed confidence that the Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) will emerge as a global hub for lab-grown diamond trading, calling it a milestone for the city’s diamond industry.

Speaking at a felicitation function organized by over 250 diamond traders at SDB — the world’s largest commercial building — Sanghvi praised the rapid growth of the bourse and the entrepreneurial spirit of traders.

Highlighting the pace of development, he noted that while only five offices became operational in 15 years at Mumbai’s Bharat Diamond Bourse, more than 250 offices have started functioning at SDB within just two years. He added that this number is expected to reach 1,000 in the next one year.

Sanghvi said Surat is steadily positioning itself as a global diamond trading hub, especially for lab-grown diamonds, with a large number of manufacturers likely to shift operations to SDB.

He also emphasized that over 90% of the world’s rough diamonds now arrive directly, and major international tenders — which earlier took place in Dubai, Russia, Israel, and Belgium — are increasingly being conducted in Surat. In the past 15 days alone, three major tenders, including one by an Israeli company, were held at SDB.

“This will save both time and travel costs for 2,000–2,500 traders who earlier had to travel abroad every month,” he said.

250 Offices in 2 Years, 1,000 Next Year – Sanghvi Hails Surat Diamond Bourse Growth; He Points Out, Bharat Diamond Bourse had Just 5 Offices in First 15 Years https://t.co/PAIoXVflnI pic.twitter.com/PuoLZoFVJx

— DeshGujarat (@DeshGujarat) April 5, 2026

During the event, Sanghvi interacted with traders, urged unity within the industry, and called for collective efforts to strengthen Surat’s global identity. He also announced a dedicated bus service for traders and brokers from Navsari and instructed authorities to set up affordable sattvic food facilities at SDB for small traders and brokers.

SDB Vice President Laljibhai Patel stated that nearly 80% of business operations have already begun in the bourse, which has a capacity of around 4,000 offices, and further growth is expected in the coming months.

Several prominent industry leaders, including Govind Dholakia, Arvind Ajabni, Rasesh Shah, Nagji Sakaria, and GJEPC Chairman Kirit Bhansali, were present at the event.

Sanghvi also took a subtle dig at critics, stating, “There are always obstacles in good work, but we will continue to move forward.”

Surat Diamond Bourse Chairman Govind Dholakia said, ‘Six months ago we went to Harshbhai and said that the offices are not yet opened, now you have to take the work in hand. Harshbhai said, I will take the work in hand. However, politicians do not do what they say, but Harshbhai took the work in hand and has done it. Sachchidanand Swami has said that if a person does good work and the society does not respect him, then that’s bad, so we have organized a ceremony to honor him.

Mukesh Patel, owner of Green Lab Diamond, said, “Just as natural diamond offices are starting in the Bursa, now lab-grown diamond offices will also start in Surat. We will meet with lab-grown traders and bring them here, and Surat Diamond Bursa will also become a hub for lab-grown diamonds.”DeshGujarat