The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) organised an interactive session during IIJS Premiere 2021, one of Asia’s leading gem and jewellery trade exhibitions, in Bangalore. The conference was graced by the presence of Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Textile, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Piyush Goyal, along with Colin Shah, Chairman GJEPC, Mahendra Tayal, Regional Chairman-Southern Region, GJEPC, Shailesh Sangani, Convener of National Exhibitions GJEPC, and Sabyasachi Ray, ED, GJEPC. 

The interactive session hosted more than 100 leading manufacturers, retailers, exporters, trade associations, and international buyers participating in IIJS, who were present to share new advancements, initiatives and other industry-related issues directly with the minister.

Goyal said, “It is a pleasure to be at IIJS Premiere 2021 that has shown all the hard work and dedication put forth by multiple retailers, exhibitors of the gems and jewellery sector in India. The current government policies have been formulated keeping in mind all the concerns and aspirations while encouraging them to venture past the government initiatives at present. The creation of a 'Credit Guarantee Fund' could help manufacturers overcome financing issues and facilitate smoother trade.”

GJEPC Chairman Colin Shah said, “We are honoured by the ­presence of Mr. Piyush Goyal who has graced the IIJS Premiere 2021 amidst his busy schedule. The commerce ministry has always been extremely responsive to our requests and has been at the forefront to resolve our issues. The hon’ble Minister has assured us to look into all the concerns raised, whether it is support in setting up Jewellery Park, Equalisation Levy, E-commerce, Repair Policy, FTA with Australia and the USA, etc. I am sure the industry will certainly take a big leap in the near future with the support of the Govt.”

At the interactive session, Goyal unveiled the Cluster Mapping Book by NCAER and GJEPC, which has enabled the industry to identify clusters for gem and jewellery manufacturing to boost exports. 

“The gem and jewellery industry is a perfect example of cooperation and collaboration and the trust you all have in each other and the very large scale at which you all think, are the perfect ingredients to boost the possibility of expanding this particular category,” Goyal said.

In response to the recommendations put forth by Shah on behalf of the industry regarding policy-related matters, Goyal offered practical suggestions. He encouraged manufacturers to set up lab-grown diamond (LGD) machines rather than depending on the Production-Linked Incentives Scheme. LGDs have the potential to catch the fancy of the middle class, he noted.

Goyal hailed the 11,000-crore Jewellery Park project that will be set in Navi Mumbai, but asked the industry to look into offering affordable housing on rental basis for workers close to their workplace under the Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs), a sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban.

As for the FTAs, he said there is every possibility to sign up one with Australia once the international COVID restrictions are lifted.

He assured the attendees that he would look into the issue of allowing hand-carriage of gems and jewellery in ports like Mumbai and Kolkata. 

On the subject of banking finance challenges, he said there is a need to have a self-regulatory body that is externally audited – something akin to World Gold Council’s Swarn Adarsh Abhiyan under the RGIP programme, where India is leading the way. 

The Minister concluded his talk by saying that the industry has to be self-reliant and self-regulatory.