SURAT: Like the world's biggest diamond cutting and polishing centre in Surat, small diamond cutting and polishing centres across the state are all set to become tech savvy. Soon, small players in these diamond centres would get an opportunity to increase their productivity and quality of work by using hi-tech technology in diamond cutting and jewellery making.

Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has proposed a project under the central government's ASIDE scheme for setting up common facility centres to provide direct access to hi-tech machines and equipment and training to diamantaires in Ahmedabad, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Visnagar, Mehsana, Jasdan, Khambhat, Mahuva, Palanpur-Deesa, Banaskantha, Palitana, Satalasana and Ugamedi.

A proposal for Rs 40 crore project for setting up common facility centres in Gujarat and centres of excellence in Surat and Navsari has been submitted to cCentral Government for approval under the Assistance to States for Developing Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities (ASIDE) scheme.