Second-generation leaders from HK are receiving special recognition from the jury in the year 2024. Rajesh Dholakia (Extreme right), Brijesh Dholakia (Third from right),
Hitarth Dholakia (Second from left).
Surat, Gujarat, India, August 2025 – Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd. (HK), a global leader in diamond manufacturing and sustainability innovation, has been honoured with the Jewellery World Awards (JWA) Sustainability Award 2025 in the Environmental Stewardship category. The award celebrates HK’s exceptional work for Life Below Water and Life On Land, reflecting a rare and holistic achievement in ecological restoration from the diamond industry.
To recall, HK was also awarded the Jury’s Special Recognition for Environmental Stewardship at the JWA 2024, where its pioneering initiatives earned global appreciation for measurable, community-led environmental impact.
As part of the 2024 JWA Sustainability Awards event, Mr. Brijesh Dholakia, second-generation leader at Hari Krishna Exports, participated in the panel discussion “Jewels of a Sustainable Future.” Reflecting the company’s core values, he stated:
“Sustainability should not be a choice; it should be a necessity.”
This year’s award reaffirms that HK continues to lead by example, turning recognition into responsibility and ambition into action.
As climate stress intensifies, 2024 stands as a defining year for HK’s conservation efforts, led by its philanthropic arm, the Dholakia Foundation. The company’s initiatives directly contributed to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life On Land).
Life Below Water: From Lakes to Livelihoods
It has been widely known in India how HK’s Mission River initiative has rejuvenated over 164 water bodies, conserving nearly 36 billion litres of water in drought-prone Gujarat. In 2024 alone, standout projects included:
Bharatmata Sarovar, inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, now stores 4 billion litres, transforming a barren landscape into a freshwater ecosystem that shelters migratory species such as Painted Storks and Herons.
The Kalwa River in Junagadh was revived to mitigate monsoon floods in urban areas, reducing displacement and improving water quality over an 8-kilometre stretch.
Saraswati River, a sacred river in Patan, was ecologically restored, enabling the return of ancient Vedic rituals disrupted by water scarcity.
Banaskantha Artificial Lake, built in a saline-affected border region, has begun reversing groundwater salinity and supports both villagers and border security forces.
These efforts have restored riparian biodiversity, reduced waterborne diseases, and improved agricultural livelihoods for over 300,000 farmers.
Life On Land: Tree by Tree, a Climate Legacy
Through Mission 102030, HK has planted 3.6 million trees to date, with 500,000 planted in 2024 alone, including native, fruit-bearing, and climate-resilient species. In the current year (2025), a total of 269,354 trees have been planted so far.
High-survival plantation clusters in Bharuch, Surat, and Amreli now serve as microhabitats and carbon sinks.
Key innovations include:
Miyawaki forests in urban zones are a method of creating dense, native forests in a small area.
AI-based geo-tagging, survival tracking, and a state-of-the-art monitoring dashboard.
Agroforestry models that link tree plantations with food security.
Ecological results include a 27% increase in green cover in targeted regions, a documented 2–3°C reduction in surface temperature, and the return of native bird and pollinator species.
Community at the Core
HK’s environmental model hinges on local partnerships. In 2024:
Farmers co-managed check dams and lakes in their village construction by contributing fuel, while HK provided heavy machinery through memorandums with Komatsu and BJS.
Students, NGOs, and global partners engaged in environmental education, excursions, and shared responsibility.
Collaborations with Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Kutch University, and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration further amplify the scientific and global relevance of HK’s interventions.
A Legacy of Ethical Leadership
This award is not HK’s first milestone in sustainability, but it is its most significant recognition to date. Founder and Chairman Savjibhai Dholakia, recipient of the Padma Shri, has long embedded environmental stewardship into HK’s ethos. The company also integrates tree planting into business operations: with every visitor’s visit to the booth of HK at any tradeshow, a sapling is planted in the visitor’s name.
“As diamond manufacturers, we understand pressure. But unlike the diamond, Earth can no longer afford to be pressured. This recognition by JWA reaffirms that luxury and sustainability can—and must—coexist,” said Mr. Hitarth Dholakia, second-generation leader of Hari Krishna Exports.
About Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd.
Founded in 1992, Hari Krishna Exports is one of India’s largest diamond exporting companies, with a global footprint spanning over 107 countries. Through its fully integrated operations in Surat and Mumbai, HK combines craftsmanship, innovation, and ethical sourcing. Its CSR model, executed by the Dholakia Foundation, aligns with all 17 UN SDGs, advancing holistic development through environmental restoration, education, and inclusive growth.
