Gujaratstartups, SURAT: Described as a sparkling jewel in the crown of world's biggest diamond cutting and polishing centre, the state-of-the-art jewellery training institute, known as City Centre' of Indian Diamond Institute (IDI), is scheduled to be inaugurated by this month-end. This will be another big event for the city, which witnessed inauguration of Gujarat's first International Exhibition and Convention Centre on Friday.

Built at a cost of Rs 12 crore at Vesu, City Centre will be equipped with modern technologies to train students to meet the aspirations of fast emerging jewellery industry in the city.

"It's a jewel in the crown of the glittering diamond hub. The main focus of this world-class centre is to create the necessary skilled workforce for the rapidly progressing jewellery trade. We have set a target to train more than 4,000 jewellery artisans in the next three years," said executive director, IDI, KK Sharma.

It's widely believed that had it not been for Surat's polished diamonds, studded jewellery would have remained a privilege for the affluent. With the small commercial quality diamonds, of which 100 per cent are at present processed in India, it's possible to manufacture moderately priced studded gold jewellery for the world market, Sharma said.

Sources said IDI is catering to the need of training for jewellery trade and industry, but capacity being limited for want of space and infrastructure, nothing much can be done. Secondly, the upcoming Jewellery Park at Ichhapore in the city will require a large pool of skilled workforce. Thus, City Centre will create the necessary skilled workforce required to take Surat's jewellery industry at new heights.

Recently, the state government had recognised IDI as the anchor institute' for designing new courses aimed at jewellery manufacturing and design for aspiring youths planning to enter the field of jewellery manufacturing in the state.

For the first time in country, IDI will be introducing gold assaying course. None of the institutes in the country runs the gold assaying courses.

Sharma said, "City Centre will give an impetus to the jewellery sector in the city. It's an anomalous situation where India exports Rs 55,000 crore worth of polished diamonds, its share in the studded jewellery exports is very negligible."

Source: Times Of India