On December 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Surat Diamond Bourse as a symbol of 'New India's strength.' Inaugurating the world's largest and most modern centre for international diamond and jewellery business, he emphasized the building's significance in reflecting the government's unwavering commitment to the nation's progress.

"Today one more diamond (Surat Diamond Bourse) has been added to Surat. This diamond is supreme. In front of this diamond, the other big buildings will lose their shine. Surat Diamond Bourse is showcasing the capabilities of Indian design, Indian designers, Indian material and Indian concepts involved here. This new diamond bourse in Gujarat is all set to create 150,000 jobs," Prime minister Modi said while addressing a public gathering. PM Modi mentioned that Surat was earlier known as the 'Sun City' but due to the hard work of people here it is now known as the 'Diamond City'.

Referring to the Surat Diamond Bourse as a supreme jewel, PM Modi highlighted its role in showcasing the capabilities of Indian design, designers, materials, and concepts. Constructed over 6.6 million square feet, the bourse is touted as the world's largest office building, surpassing the Pentagon which has an area of 6.5 million square feet. The Surat Diamond Bourse is India's second diamond trading hub based at Surat, Gujarat, spread across 35.54 acres with an availability of 67 lakh sq.ft. built-up area encompassing 4,500 offices for national and international traders. For ease of travellers and vehicle parking, there is 20 Lakh sq.ft. basement area, planned for organised vehicle parking.

PM Modi urged students of architecture and environmental sciences to visit the Surat Diamond Bourse. He emphasized the importance of studying the innovative design and remarkable environmental features of the green building.

Kiran Gems, a prominent global diamond manufacturer, has relocated its global headquarters to the Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB), a state-of-the-art complex accommodating over 4,000 diamond traders and exporters. The SDB, in addition to its expansive mall, boasts a 40,000 sq ft Customs House on the upper basement of the Diamond Club, streamlining customs clearances and providing a significant boost to the gem and jewellery sector in the region. The 50,000 sq ft mall within SDB includes 27 diamond jewellery showrooms, offering a platform for top brands. Another notable addition to SDB is Dharmanandan Diamonds.

Remarkably, the SDB's carpet area spans 67,28,604 lakh sq ft, surpassing the size of the Pentagon in the US by almost 55,000 sq ft. Despite its vast dimensions, the building's efficiency is notable, with the ability to reach any corner within six minutes on the top floor of its 15-storied towers, facilitated by 131 elevators managed by a destination control system. SDB provides diamond jewellery showroom owners with access to safety vaults, further enhancing its appeal as a comprehensive hub for the diamond and jewellery industry. The Surat Diamond Bourse, set to become a global trading centre for rough and polished diamonds and jewellery, features a state-of-the-art 'Customs Clearance House,' a jewellery mall, and facilities for international banking and safe vaults.

Salient features

• The Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) building, the world's largest office complex with more than 67 lakh square feet of floor area, is located at Khajod village near Surat city.
• It is a global centre for trading of both rough and polished diamonds as well as jewellery.
• It comprises a state-of-the-art 'Customs Clearance House' for import and export, jewellery mall for retail jewellery business and facility of international banking and safe vaults.
• Several diamond traders, including those based in Mumbai earlier, have already taken possession of their offices, which were allotted by the management after auction.
• The SDB is part of the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City.
• With 67 lakh square feet of floor space, the SDB is now the world's largest office building having nearly 4,500 diamond trading offices.
• The mega structure, built on a plot of 35.54 acres inside the DREAM City, has nine towers of 15 floors with office spaces ranging from 300 sq ft to 1 lakh sq ft.