Sparkle-09', a four day gem and jewellery exhibition, will unfold in Surat at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Indoor Stadium, from December 26 onwards, reports say. More than 50 leading jewellery manufacturing companies and jewellery retailers from Gujarat, Mumbai and Rajasthan are expected to participate, showcasing bridal and diamond-studded accessories.

Since its inception, this annual event has been built as a platform to promote the expertise of diamond cutting and polishing in Surat, the world’s largest diamond cutting and polishing centre. After the turbulent economic slowdown, the Surat diamond factories are witnessing an increase in demand for diamonds, subsequent to the growth in demand for diamond jewellery in India and emerging markets like Hong Kong and China.

As per reports, the industry experts view the growth in the Indian diamond jewellery to touch Rs 30,000 crore by 2012. The Indian jewellery market including gold, diamond, platinum and others, is likely to grow upto $16 billion. Sparkle-09' is likely to bring back the spur in the domestic diamond industry.

Sparkle-09' is being organised by Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) in association with Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), Surat Diamond Association (SDA) and Surat Jewellers' Association (SJA) and will be inaugurated at the hands of Industries Minister Saurabh Patel on December 25.