The Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), an apex body of the gems and jewellery industry by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, held a seminar in Kolhapur recently to apprise small entrepreneurs and karigars within the gems and jewellery industry on various schemes.

The seminar was conducted to create awareness about various schemes available for MSMEs and through the National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC); and to inform them about banking procedures and documentation, export-import procedures; the Cluster Development Programme; Common Facility Centres; Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness scheme; as well as about the benefits of becoming members of the GJEPC, and its health insurance and Parichay Card schemes.

Mithilesh Pandey, Director, Head Membership, GJEPC, spoke about GJEPC’s Parichay Card, health insurance schemes, benefits of becoming members of GJEPC; and benefits available to the MSME sector and Udyog Aadhar registration, how to avail of them and whom to approach for the same.

The seminar also shed light on loan subsidies where for women entrepreneurs there is a 30 percent subsidy on loans providing at least 50 percent employees of the firm are women. Similarly, there is a 30 percent subsidy available for entrepreneurs from the SC/ST category. The GJEPC aims to boost the country’s export thrust and at present, represents 6,000 exporters in the sector.