Context: Surat is set to launch the Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB), claimed to be the “world’s biggest workspace” with 4,200 diamond trading offices, surpassing the capacity of the Pentagon.

• Aim: The SDB aims to shift the entire diamond trading business from Mumbai to Surat. It also aims to boost business, attract international clients, and create a significant economic impact on the region.

• Note: Surat is located beside the Tapi River in the west Indian state of Gujarat. Historically it was known for silk weaving and remains a commercial center for textiles.

About Surat Diamond Bourse

• The SDB is a large-scale project located in Surat, Gujarat, India.

• It is claimed to be the world’s biggest office space in a single project.

• It is built to expand and consolidate the diamond trading business from Mumbai to Surat.

• Surat is renowned as a major hub for cutting and polishing diamonds, and the development of SDB aims to bring all diamond-related activities and infrastructure under one roof.

Key features  

• Location: The SDB is situated at DREAM (Diamond Research and Mercantile) city in Surat.

• Size: The bourse spans an area of 66 lakh square feet (approximately 6.6 million square feet), making it one of the largest office spaces in the world.

• Design: The thematic landscaping of the project is based on the ‘panch tatva’ theme, representing the five elements of nature – air, water, fire, earth, and sky.

• Infrastructure: The SDB consists of nine towers, each with ground plus 15 floors. It will accommodate over 4,200 offices with sizes ranging from 300 square feet to 7,500 square feet.

• Security: Given the high-security nature of the diamond industry, over 4,000 CCTV cameras have been installed at different locations inside and outside the SDB.

• Shifting from Mumbai: The bourse seeks to address the space crunch and expensive office real estate in Mumbai, where much of the diamond trading currently takes place.

Economic significance of SDB

• Businesses: The complex will house various diamond-related businesses, including the sale of rough and polished diamonds, diamond manufacturing machinery, diamond planning software, diamond certificate firms, lab-grown diamonds, and more.

• Employment: The SDB is expected to generate significant employment opportunities, providing direct employment to over 1 lakh people in various roles related to the diamond industry.