Gitanjali SEZ to start operations in Aug

The Mumbai-based Gitanjali Group is all set to start its manufacturing operations at the 200-acre Hyderabad Gems SEZ in July-August this year.

While the training of artisans in diamond cutting and jewellery making is in full swing at its full-fledged training facility set up in the SEZ layout, the development of roads and other infrastructure facilities to operationalise the project is under way.

"As the anchor client and promoter of the SEZ, Gitanjali would be setting up the first gems and jewellery unit employing about 3,000 people," Srikanth Badiga, chief executive officer of HGSEZ told Business Standard.

The group would invest Rs 450 crore and Rs 250 crore in the first two phases of the project respectively with a overall plan to pump in Rs 1,500 crore in five years from now.

According to Badiga, about eight big factories employing over 15,000 people with an expected turnover of Rs 4,000 crore will be operating from the HGSEZ by the end of the year 2008.

The group is planning to bring in only international players into the project to keep the employee pay levels and the overall ambience at high standards.

"The company will begin marketing the SEZ once the infrastructure is ready," he said. The prospective companies are expected to be identified through DTC.

Badiga said the training programme had been a huge success with scores of boys and girls from neighbouring villages and the city joining the institute.

Besides, entrepreneurs from Surat and elsewhere too have started their own training centres keeping in view the huge employment potential that the Gems SEZ would offer in the coming years. Once fully operational, the project is expected to provide employment to 50,000 people and an indirect employment to over 75,000, he added.

"In fact, the human resources available in the city would be our USP in showcasing the SEZ to the prospective companies since the local youth have been quite quick in grasping the nuances of the diamond cutting job," Badiga said.

Kisan Ramachandra Waje, general manager, Gitanjali Gems Limited, who is currently training 1,200 people assisted by a team of trainers, all flown from Mumbai, said the talent of local youth prompted him to think of settling down in Hyderabad as he sees a promising future for gems and jewellery industry on account of human resources.

The dropout rate among the candidates enlisted for training is below 10 per cent, according to him. The company is planning to set up similar training institutes in the neighbouring districts and elsewhere in the state.

The SEZ will feature an international trade centre besides a convention centre and exhibition area. It will also have gems and jewellery manufacturing operations.