This is one thing which surprised me at least when I read the headline of the news article. Surprised because till date I didn’t know that something called a diamond exchange existed. A diamond exchange and that too the world’s largest opened for trading in Mumbai on Sunday.
So how does a diamond exchange work?
A diamond exchange is the main center where the sorting and distribution of the different types of diamonds takes place. The diamonds which are rough are sorted according to their characteristics. They are finally exchanged and distributed to traders and dealers who cut and polish them before selling them to the customers. [source]
What is the objective of the Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) started at Mumbai?
The BDB is located in the Bandra Kurla complex and spread over 20 acres through nine linked towers is a reflection of India’s movement from a manufacturing hub to a trading destination.
The objectives are two-fold: –
- Establish a strong infrastructure for the promotion of diamonds and also diamond jewellery
- Enable the traders, importers, exporters, manufacturers – all to come together on a common platform for common support and services
What is the potential for growth?
There are a number of reasons such an exchange could help India: –
- More than 75% of the diamond exports, to make it the largest in the world.
- It also leads in cutting, polishing, producing and also processing of 11 out of 12 diamonds in the world
The exchange claims to already have the top 400 exporters and a turnover in the range of US $ 27-28 billion. With increasing participation from the traditional diamond centres of Israel and Belgium it is expected to only go higher. As this happens India’s diamond industry could grow by around 10-15% over the next 5 years.
All in all, it looks like the diamond business is all set for a boom. And a big one at that.
Do you think having such an exchange is a good idea?
Diamond Exchange !! Nice and interesting