Lockdown: Eight diamond processing units started in Surat SEZ

The agitation in Hong Kong and the subsequent terror of the coronavirus in China led to stagnation of gems and jewellery exports. The diamond and jewellery industry was witnessing a wave of concern with the onset of Corona in the country. In the midst of all this, there is some relief as 8 Diamond processing units started in Surat SEZ.

Surat: Following the relaxation rules of the government during lockdown due to COVID-19, eight diamond processing units in the Surat Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and as many as ten shipments of diamond jewellery has been delivered from Surat's Diamond Bourse to Mumbai in chartered planes.

According to Hong Kong's air connectivity, Gems and Jewellery Exports Promotion Council (GJEPC) has submitted a petition to the Surat District Collector to release the parcels of diamonds trapped in the BDB after which they can process the diamonds and convert them into jewellery to export them.

The GJEPC also wants permission to bring rough diamonds to Surat from Mumbai by road transport.

In this regard, GJEPC Regional Chairman Dinesh Nawadia said that since April 20 the GJEPC has been in constant touch with the customs officials and has ensured that exports from Surat bourse will start immediately.

Depending on the Hong Kong connectivity, the GJEPC is coordinating with the concerned agencies to transfer two or three export parcels from Surat to Mumbai. If rough diamonds could be brought from Mumbai to Surat by the state road transport, it would be more convenient to Surat’s diamond processing units.

The diamond industry was facing a severe financial crisis for the last eight months as a result of mass agitation in Hong Kong because of which all export parcels were seized at the airport.

Moreover, exports to the USA had also stopped because of the recession. In the meantime, the coronavirus crisis gripped the world and lockdown had to be declared in India as well.

At present eight diamond processing units have started in Surat SEZ and if the situation improves, the industry hopes to do good business in the coming days.

Surat’s diamond industry, which had earned a name in the global market, had received a major set back on account of the coronavirus pandemic. But now that the effect of coronavirus is under control in China and in India too the lockdown 3.0 is expected to see some relaxation.