The Pentagon, the US Department of Defense powerhouse in Virginia, was the world’s largest office building for over eight decades – but not anymore. That title has recently been yanked away by the Surat Diamond Bourse, a freshly opened diamond trading floor in western India.
The
As its name suggests, its prime business will be diamond dealing, housing the offices of over 4,500 diamond traders. It will
The structure was built with the
The dazzling building was opened at an
It’s set to become the centerpiece of the Diamond Research and Mercantile City (DREAM), an up-and-coming business district in Surat. Currently, much of the surrounding landscape is merely cleared land and constructed sites, but the area has aspirations of becoming the diamond capital of the world.
India is not even in the
In years gone by, diamond dealers would have to travel 241 kilometers (150 miles) southwards to Mumbai to do business, but the Surat Diamond Bourse hopes to save that commute and offer merchants a one-stop destination for trade.
However, there are some reservations that the diamond trading mega-complex may be all glitz and no substance, according to
Kiran Gems – an industry giant that played an instrumental role in the building’s development – relocated their HQ back to the Bharat Diamond Bourse in Mumbai just three months after moving to the Surat Diamond Bourse. This has led to some speculation about whether the grand plan will flop in the face of competition from Mumbai.
“There is always resistance to change. Even if Surat is not happening today, it will progress within five years,” Tehmasp Printer, CEO of International Gemological Institute, told the Indian newspaper.
“The good news is that the world-class infrastructure is ready. Now, the city needs to rev up, ensure better connectivity, get hotels, hospitals and schools”, he added.