Following is an excerpt from a report in Pioneer.

The Gitanjali Group, one of the oldest leading names in gems and jewellery, has proposed to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the State. The group’s infrastructure arm, Gitanjali Infratech Limited (GIL), has approached Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to set up its eighth SEZ for gems and jewellery.

The company’s chief executive officer Ajit A Vaidya has requested the State Government to allocate land for the purpose. If allowed, it will be the first of its kind in the State, said an officer of the Industries Department. The Gitanjali Group is known for its jewellery brands, Nakshatra, Gili, Desire, Asmi, Sangini and D’dmas in both domestic and international markets. GIL’s existing seven SEZs are spread over Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

While the gross size of the Indian gem and jewellery industry is 20,889.21 million dollars, the country’s jewellery manufacturing is currently only a fraction thereof.

This is predominantly due to lack of availability of organised infrastructure, structured manufacturing and exporting environment, said Vaidya.

Therefore, setting up of more SEZs for this sector would promote export of the Indian products, he said.

The gems and jewellery sector, which is labour-intensive, currently generates more than 3 million jobs with the setting up of SEZs.

As there are more than 2 lakh workers from Orissa engaged in the diamond cutting and polishing industry in Surat, this will help them find jobs in their homeland, feels a senior official.