Chairman of Adani Group, Gautam Adani, termed the falling gems and jewellery exports a ‘wake-up call’ that signals both temporary and permanent challenges. Adani said this in his keynote address at the 51st India Gem & Jewellery Awards in Jaipur.
oN the gems and jewellery sector, he said, “India is the jewel in the global crown of the cut and polished diamond market. But the 14% decline in exports is more than a statistic. It is a wake-up call. It signals a turning point where challenges, both temporary and permanent, demand that we reimagine our approach.”
“This industry is a power- house employing 5 million workers, a figure comparable to our workforce in the IT sector. Surat, as the global epicentre, employs over a million skilled workers. This industry is not just an economic driver; it is a source of pride for our nation,” he said.
On the rise of lab-grown diamonds (LGD), Adani said, “LGD have evolved from a scientific wonder to market disruptor. Advances in AI and material science are pushing their quality and precision even further. It is not far-fetched to imagine our future, where we design our own diamond, specifying every detail from cut to colour, clarity, and carat weight, making each piece uniquely personal. This is the future we must embrace.”
Adani also shared details about his journey to become an entrepreneur. “In 1978, at the age of 16, I left school, left my home in Ahmedabad and took a one-way ticket to Mumbai. I had no idea what I would do, but I was clear I wanted to be an entrepreneur, and I believed Mumbai was the city of opportunities that would give me this chance. I got my first opportunity at Mahendra Brothers, where I learned diamond sorting. Even today, I recall the joy of closing my first deal. It was a transaction with a Japanese buyer, and I got a commission of Rs 10,000,” he recalled.
