Surat to import diamonds from Marange mines in Zimbabwe

"An agreement was reached by Kimberley Process during the recently concluded World Diamond Congress, which will now enable Zimbabwe to carry out exports of diamonds from its Marange deposits," President SDA Rohit Mehta told PTI.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is an international governmental certification that was set up to prevent the trade of diamonds that fund conflict. Launched in January 2003, the scheme requires governments to certify that shipments of rough diamonds are free from blood diamonds.

"The deposits in Marange diamond mines are valued at close to 2 billion USD," Mehta said adding it will open huge opportunities for the diamantaires at Surat.

With close to 4,500 diamond polishing units, Surat district is a major importer of rough diamonds in India and with this development they will be able to import diamonds form Zimbabwe.

Surat, which is also touted as diamond capital of Asia, polishes almost 95 per cent of the world's diamonds.

"For nine months, Kimberley Process blocked Marange exports, until such time that the country could demonstrate that it was in compliance with Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) demands," industry sources said.