With a decision in this regard, global diamond mining firms like DTC Alrosa, BHP-Billiton etc will be able to have their office in notified region to sell rough diamonds directly.
At present site holders and non site holders of Surat and Mumbai have to purchase rough diamond from Antwerp, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Israel and Dubai. Companies need to set up their trading infrastructure in these countries. With a decision to make dream city a notified area, they will no longer need to go abroad.
A delegation of Gujarat government met the Union minister of state for ministry of commerce & industry Nirmala Sitharaman and discussed the project with her. Another meeting comprising state government officials and leading diamond traders is scheduled in next few days.
Announcement of the region is expected before the mega Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit, schedule in January 2015 in which the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also participate,'' added a senior official of the industry & mines department in Gujarat government.
Till date, consignment import of rough diamonds is not allowed in India, which prevents global mining companies from setting up trading offices in Surat. Diamond mining companies have also stayed away from India due to the complex tax procedure here. This forces Indian diamantaires to travel abroad and purchase diamonds from mining companies in auctions held there.
Sources in the state industry and mines department said: "Prevalent restrictions on the diamond industry will be relaxed in the notified region. Gujarat government plans to give tax concessions, along with other financial benefits and incentives to the industries that set up office in this region.''
Sources in the state industry and mines department said: "Prevalent restrictions on the diamond industry will be relaxed in the notified region. Gujarat government plans to give tax concessions, along with other financial benefits and incentives to the industries that set up office in this region.''
Annual import of rough diamonds in the country is pegged at $15 billion. Most of the precious stones are imported from South Africa, Antwerp, Botswana, Canada and Australia. De Beers alone sells more than $2.5 billion worth of diamonds to Indian clients. Of these 90 per cent of the diamonds are processed in Surat.
Mathur Savani, spokesperson, Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) told ,"We had proposed to the central government to set up a special notified region in Surat. This will facilitate the trade as diamond would be sold directly to us and will be a lot cheaper."
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