Diamantaires in Surat are upbeat as the central government is likely to give its approval shortly for the import of Rs 700 crore worth of Zimbabwe rough diamonds consignment cleared by Dubai authorities.

Dubai authorities on Thursday last cleared the export of the rough diamonds from Zimbabwe's Marange diamond field belonging to Indian diamond traders being held since November 2010 in their free trade zone. But, the diamantaires have been awaiting the central government's nod to bring the consignment to India.

"The Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) is in constant touch with the ministries concerned in the central government for the import of Rs 700 crore worth of rough diamonds," Sanjay Kothari, vice-chairman of GJEPC told TOI. The government is awaiting the minutes of the meeting of Kimberley Process' Working Group of Monitoring (WGM) where the decision to release the rough diamond consignment from Dubai's free trade zone had been taken, sources said.

According to Kothari, the entry of Rs 700 crore worth of rough diamond consignment will help ease the shortage faced by the diamantaires. The GJEPC is also persuading the government on taking a positive stand in favour of the diamond manufacturers to bring the rough stocks from Zimbabwe.

About 60 rough diamond dealers from Surat and Mumbai are camping in Dubai for the past two days to secure the Zimbabwe rough diamond consignment in Dubai. "The flow of Zimbabwe diamonds worth Rs 700 crore will ease the shortage faced by the diamantaires for the past few months. We pray that the government legalises the import of Zimbabwe diamonds as Surat is the ultimate user," said Dinesh Navadia, president of Surat Diamond Association (SDA).