Mumbai: The new Committee of Administration (CoA) of The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) for the term 2020-22 was announced yesterday following the declaration of results of the elections held through an online voting process from March 20 to 26, 2020.
Mr. Colin Shah, the previous Vice Chairman will assume the role of Chairman for the new term and Mr. Vipul P. Shah, a former GJEPC Chairman, will take over the position of Vice Chairman.
Commenting on the appointment Mr. Colin Shah, said, “The new term at GJEPC starts amidst acute uncertainties due to the ongoing COVID 19 crisis in India and world over. It demand a paradigm shift for the industry. The Council is focusing towards recalibrating itself by digitalisation across verticals, exploring new ways of reaching customers and unconventional ways of creating demand for gems and Jewellery. We are fortunate to have a very strong team representing every segment of our industry. We are confident that we all will work closely with the industry and the government, especially the Ministry of Commerce and industry, to give Indian gems and jewellery market a competitive edge in the world market.”
He further said, “Favourable Policy measures for improving ease of doing business, availability of Bank Finance, fostering MSMEs, leveraging e-Commerce for trade and business are some of the immediate concerns we would like to address.”
“We will collectively turn adversity into opportunity and act with conviction and speed. ” Colin Shah further added.
Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Vipul Shah, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, said, “It is a privilege to be associated with GJEPC. India has come a long way to achieve the status of global leader in gems and jewellery exports business. There are tremendous growth opportunities for Indian jewellery exports and the industry will stand together to complete the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to create an Atmanirbhar Bharat by upgrading domestic manufacturing capabilities to substitute imports and make India the most flourishing global hub of jewellery exports in the next 5 years.”
Vipul Shah, further added, “ The current environment is extremely challenging for the Indian gems and jewellery exports. However we are optimistic that the global consumption will pick-up in the second half of this year and global trade will witness upward trend.”
“Bank finance in the gems and jewellery sector, skill enhancement of craftsman and karigars , gold monetisation etc are some of the recurring issues faced by the industry that needs to be addressed on priority”, he added.
GJEPC has made several representations and recommendations to the Government of India to boost gems and jewellery exports and is hopeful that the government will take some positive trade measures soon. Council congratulates the Government and the Ministry of Finance for announcing the Rs 20 lakh crores stimulus package. This relief package will ensure that the economic wheel of progress which has come to a halt, will resume again with full speed.
Others who were elected/re-elected (unopposed or through polling) to positions in the CoA which were to be filled as part of the current process include:
- Diamond Panel – Chirag D. Lakhi
- Gold Jewellery Panel & Other Precious Metal Jewellery Panel – (SEZ Category) – Suvankar Sen
- Gold Jewellery Panel & Other Precious Metal Jewellery Panel – Shailesh H. Sangani
- Coloured Gemstones Panel & Pearls Panel – Mahendra Agarwal
- Silver Jewellery Panel – Ram Babu Gupta
- Synthetic Stones/Costume Fashion Jewellery & Sales to Foreign Tourist Panel – Badri Narayanan Gupta
- Regional Chairman – Northern Region – Ashok Seth
- Regional Chairman – Rajasthan Region – Nirmal Kumar Bardiya
- Regional Chairman – Eastern Region – Prakash Chandra Pincha
- Regional Chairman – Southern Region – Mahender Kumar Tayal
- Regional Chairman – Gujarat Region – Dineshbhai Ramjibhai Navadiya
- Regional Chairman -Western Region – Ashokbhai H Gajera
