DiamondBuzz
Govind Dholakia Felicitated with DDG’s Lifetime Achievement Award
The award was presented by Diamonds Do Good at their annual gala during JCK Las Vegas 2025, one of the world’s biggest jewellery shows in the US
In a moment of great pride for India and the diamond city of Surat, Shri Govind Dholakia, the humble visionary behind Shree Ramkrishna Exports (SRK), was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Diamonds Do Good, a prestigious global non-profit organisation. The award was presented at their annual gala during JCK Las Vegas 2025, one of the world’s biggest jewellery shows in the US.

What made the evening even more special was that his son, Shreyans Dholakia, Entrepreneur – Brand Custodian of the company accepted the award on his behalf, stating it made him “ten times prouder” to represent his father and the values he built the business upon.
“Legacy and history are not built by preserving wealth, they are built by giving and sharing.” He always says.

Speaking at the event, Shreyans, said:
“Thank you Diamonds Do Good. This honour goes beyond our family, it belongs to every artisan in Surat, to every life touched by our foundation, and to a philosophy we live by: that business is not just about success, but about significance.”
The award comes at a time when the world is increasingly looking for meaning behind luxury and India’s diamond industry is being recognised for both excellence and ethics.
This marks the second time Govind Dholakia has been honoured in the US, the first being the prestigious USGBC Leadership Award, presented in Boston by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for his visionary commitment to sustainable development.
Last night in Las Vegas over, 9,000 miles from India, Surat’s spirit was celebrated. This is a national moment of pride for the values, vision, and people that make India shine across the world.
From a small village in Gujarat to one of the biggest stages in the global diamond industry, Govind Dholakia’s journey began at the age of 13, with no resources, but immense honesty, hard work, and unshakable faith. Over six decades later, his story is now being recognised not just for building a global diamond powerhouse, but more importantly, for the lives he has touched and uplifted beyond business.

SRK, a name synonymous with fine natural diamonds, is known not only for its world-class craftsmanship but also for its deep commitment to sustainability and community upliftment. Both of its diamond crafting facilities in Surat are the world’s first Net Zero Energy buildings, proudly green-certified for over a decade and recently were recognised for having the lowest per carat emissions of diamond crafting compared the industry average.
Through its philanthropic wing, the SRK Knowledge Foundation (SRKKF) which celebrates 10 years this month, SRK continues a legacy of giving started by Govind Dholakia over 40 years ago. Created to bring all such efforts under one roof, SRKKF has since impacted millions through initiatives in education, girl child empowerment, healthcare, and rural development.
DiamondBuzz
South African Task Team To Help Struggling Diamond Producers
The South African Government Has Partnered With Mining Industry Leaders To Form A Joint Task Team Aimed At Saving Jobs and Supporting Diamond Producers Facing Severe Market Pressures.
The quick intervention follows major disruptions in the local sector, including Petra Diamonds placing its Finsch mine under business rescue and De Beers announcing a two-year production pause at Venetia, the country’s largest diamond mine.
In a parliamentary reply on October 26, Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe confirmed that the team—which includes the Minerals Council South Africa and local diamond producers—will develop strategies to help mines survive current economic headwinds.
The immediate focus is finding practical solutions to protect operations across the entire sector, especially junior and small-scale miners who are being hit the hardest,
Key Industry Challenges
The local diamond sector faces a combination of falling global prices, rising operating costs, and intense competition from lab-grown synthetic diamonds. Official figures highlight the severity of the crisis:
Production Downturn: South African diamond output dropped 19.5% year-to-date through August.
Commodity Slump: According to Statistics South Africa, diamond mining was the weakest-performing mining sub-sector in August, with output falling 23.0% in the three months ending August compared to the previous three months.
Significant Mine Reductions: De Beers reported a 37% year-on-year drop in South African production for Q3 2026 (down to 418,000 carats) as operations wrap up ahead of Venetia’s pause. De Beers expects zero further production in South Africa for the remainder of 2026.
Price Pressures: Lower market values and a strong South African rand reduced average tender prices at the Finsch mine from $56 to $47 per carat, making ongoing operations unviable under current conditions.
The task team will focus on measures to ease cost pressures and address global market shifts. Further details regarding the team’s specific work plan, timelines, and financial resources will be announced as proposals are finalized.
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