A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the new Indian diamond sourcing consortium Surat Rough Diamond Sourcing India Ltd (SRDSIL) and Zimbabwe's Mines Minister Obert Mpofu, under which the Indian Diamond Institute (IDI) will train young workers in Zimbabwe as diamond cutters and polishers in exchange for a direct supply of rough diamonds to Surat.

Indianexpress.com quoted SRDSIL Chairman Ashit Mehta saying that if the plan worked out, Surat could expect to receive $1.2 billion worth of rough diamonds from Zimbabwe each year.

Mpofu, who studied business in New Delhi, attended the Mines to Market conference with a 17-member delegation and said that his visit was intended to foster a economic relationship between Zimbabwe and India, especially in diamonds.



"We want to create employment in our country with the help of IDI… We are ready to give benefits to market players from India," the minister stated.

IDI Director KK Sharma said that the IDI was prepared to conduct the training in Surat, but that India's experts were also willing to travel to Zimbabwe.