Sanghavi urges traders to begin ops from SDB

Surat: Deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi on Saturday urged diamond traders to begin operations from the Surat Diamond Bourse and work towards developing it as a global hub for rough and lab-grown diamond trading.Addressing traders at an event at the bourse, Sanghavi said, "If the city is polishing most of the rough diamonds, there is no reason why rough sellers cannot come here to sell their products," he said.He also highlighted the need for better facilities at the complex, including affordable food services for brokers and improved public transport connectivity. According to him, around 3,200 people currently visit the bourse daily, and bus connectivity from Navsari has already been started.Kirit Bhansali, chairman of GJEPC, said Surat has the potential to emerge as a rough diamond trading hub if the industry and government focus on key enabling factors that helped centres like Dubai grow into major global trading hubs.