The government has a roadmap for the next 25 years and is working on the goals of a $5 trillion economy and a $10 trillion economy, Modi said while speaking at the inauguration of the Surat Diamond Bourse on Sunday.
The people of Surat for long had known Modi’s guarantees, and the diamond bourse is an example of one such guarantee to them, he said.
Recalling his interaction with the people associated with the diamond trade and the 2014 World Diamond Conference in Delhi, where special notified zones for the diamond industry were announced, the Prime Minister said the journey had led to a big diamond centre in the form of the Surat Diamond Bourse, making possible many aspects of diamond trade under one roof.
“For artisan, workman and businessman, for all, the Surat Diamond Bourse has become a one-stop shop,” he added.
The bourse will have facilities like international banking, safe vaults and a jewellery mall, leading to the creation of 150,000 new jobs, he said, adding: “This building is a symbol of New India’s capabilities and resolutions.”The Surat Diamond Bourse is the world’s largest interconnected building, interlinking more than 4,500 offices within its premises. It serves as a marketplace for the auction of diamond raw materials from around the world. The facility plans to incorporate 27 international jewellery showrooms.Surat’s diamond industry, currently generating annual business of ₹2 lakh crore, is anticipated to double with the realisation of the diamond bourse. This implies an annual business turnover of ₹2 lakh crore as a result of this bourse, benefitting both the state and central governments in terms of tax revenue.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister inaugurated a new terminal building at the Surat airport.
He informed the audience about the commencement of a Surat-Dubai flight and a soon-to-start flight to Hong Kong. With Surat, Gujarat now has three international airports.
