Hon'ble Minister of State for Agriculture, Farmers' Welfare and Panchayati Raj, Shri Parshottam Rupala today inaugurated the Ratna Aabhushan Suvidha Kendra, a common facility centre (CFC) that will boost the small units of the diamond and jewellery industry in Junagadh.

Other dignitaries present on the occasion included Shri Senthil Nathan, Dy. Secretary, MoC&I, GOI; Smt Adhyashakti Majmudar, Mayor, Junagadh; Shri Dinesh Navadiya - Regional Chairman, GJEPC; Shri Sabyasachi Ray - Executive Director, GJEPC; Shri Dhirajlal Zalavadiya - President, Diamond Association – Junagadh; Shri Pravin Shah - Member, Purchase Committee, CFC – Gujarat; Shri Jetha Prajapati – President, Diamond Karkhanedar Welfare Association, Visnagar; Shri Amrut Fosi – President, Banaskanatha District Diamond Factory Owner’s Association, Palanpur; Shri Lalit Thummar – President, Amreli Diamond Association and others.

The Kendra, or Common Facility Centre has been set up by The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council in collaboration with the Diamond Association, Junagadh with financial assistance from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India.

Spread over an area of almost 2,000 sq ft, the centre is equipped with machines that use advanced laser based technology for processing of rough diamonds including planning, marking, sawing, etc. The facilities can be used on a time-sharing basis by members of the local association as per their requirements.

Welcoming the guests, Shri Navadiya spoke about the positive impact of the CFC scheme and the benefits to small players within the industry, especially those in remote locations. He further requested the government to look into the GST slab on diamond cutting and polishing services. He pointed out that input credit cannot be availed of for these levies and hence requested for a reduction in GST slab.

Chief Guest Shri Rupala assured the gathering that he would hold discussions with the small players and address their issues in the best possible way. He emphasised that Government of India has always co-operated with the industry and is committed to ensuring that it flourishes and prospers. He also urged Shri Senthil Nathan to help in setting up more CFCs in smaller towns such as Botad, Upleta, etc.

In a brief presentation, Shri Ray highlighted how CFCs brought state-of-the-art technology to the doorstep of players in the smaller towns enabling them to provide high quality products and finishing at very economical prices. This would not only give the India centre a greater edge in meeting demands of the global markets, but would also ensure the socio-economic development of these regions.

He also said that the Junagadh CFC is the fourth such centre established in Gujarat in the last two years after similar facilities were launched at Visnagar, Palanpur and Amreli. The two older centres – Visnagar and Palanpur – are now operating two shifts and have exceeded projections for production.

Shri Senthil Nathan shared the vision of the ministry and explained how it viewed the CFC both as a tool for the transformation of the industry and to impact the overall economy.

Pic caption: Hon'ble Minister of State for Agriculture, Farmers' Welfare and Panchayati Raj, Shri Parshottam Rupala speaks at the inauguration of the Ratna Aabhushan Suvidha Kendra in Junagadh. Other dignitaries on the dais (from r) Shri Dhirajlal Zalavadiya - President Diamond Association, Junagadh; Smt Adhyashakti Majmudar – Mayor, Junagadh; Shri Dinesh Navadiya - Regional Chairman, GJEPC; Shri Senthil Nathan, Dy. Secretary, MoC&I, GOI and Shri Sabyasachi Ray - Executive Director, GJEPC