World's Largest Office Built In Surat In Hopes Of Dominating Diamond Trade
NDTV
Historically, Surat was one of the most important trade links between India and countries such as Britain, the Netherlands and Portugal because of its proximity to the Arabian Sea coast.
A new office complex that surpasses the Pentagon in size is set to officially open on Sunday in Surat, cementing the city's ambitions to become the world's diamond capital.
The Surat Diamond Bourse in Gujarat, which covers a constructed area of 6.7 million square feet (620,000 square meters), became the world's largest office complex when it was completed in July for 32 billion rupees ($384 million). The US landmark opened in 1943 and has an area of 6.5 million square feet.
The complex in Surat will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The bourse's opening will further build on other efforts by Prime Minister Modi's administration to boost Gujarat economically, for example by cutting red tape to make it more business-friendly.
