New Delhi: Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that her ministry has recommended that the finance ministry seriously consider easing import curbs on gold to help the beleaguered gems and jewellery export sector, reports The Economic Times.

Speaking to ET, Sitharaman, who is also minister of state for finance, said that while the current account deficit (CAD) crisis had been somewhat ameliorated by the import curbs on gold, it had deeply affected revenues generated by the gems and jewellery sector, an important earner of foreign exchange.

“During the pre-budget consultation, there has been a lot of thinking going on, on the gold issue. We have had so many of our exporters telling us, especially our gems and jewellery exporters who have made significant contributions to our balance of payments situation, that they have suffered. We don’t want that,” she said.

She added that the contribution of this sector to export revenues meant that the issue of curbing gold imports has to be looked at afresh. “They are telling us, that very well there is a crisis due to which these curbs were brought in, but now this is a new crisis, that of exports getting hit,” she said.

“On that count we have strongly recommended to the finance minister that a fresh look has to be taken at import curbs on gold, that a sector which is instrumental in bringing in so much revenue cannot be hit like this,” she added.