Kolkata: The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) organized a two-day India Jewellery Buyer-Seller Meet (BSM) on December 4 and 5, 2018, in Kolkata among leading jewelers from participating countries like Bangladesh, Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, Singapore, UAE, UK and USA. This initiative aims to offer a gateway to a huge potential market, which will further boost the bilateral investment and trade opportunities with a fresh vigour.
The objective of the first-ever trade meet at Kolkata is to invite key business decision makers from these countries and arrange one-to-one meetings with the prominent 24 Indian Jewellery manufacturers from India who will be showcasing trendy and latest plain gold crafted jewellery and studded jewellery, in an effort to develop new trust and understanding at a cultural, business & professional level and to explore future business opportunities.
Addressing the gathering, Mrs. Rupa Dutta, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt of India said, “The gems and jewellery sector forms a very important part of our exports basket, it’s over 14-16 percent of our export basket. It is a priority sector to the Govt of India. Number of measures have been taken by the government which includes improving ease of doing business. Would like to specially emphasis that the Government has been specially nurturing gems and jewellery sector due to its high employability. The Eastern part of India specially Bengal, contributes to the Indian jewellery eco-system, as large number of jewellery workers who are known for their skill, especially for the handmade jewellery designs are from Bengal. The Kolkata jewellery is much sought after and well-known world over, and handcrafted jewellery contribute to value addition in all other countries in the world. This should also be in case of handcrafted jewellery in India, especially the highly skilled ones which are produced by the master craftsmen of our country. One of the major purpose of organising these kind of buyer seller meets is to promote these exquisite handcrafted jewellery and thus enhance the value addition, improve the branding of our jewellery and give a better place in the international market.Will take this opportunity to acknowledge GJEPC for participating in international trade shows, participating trade events like the buyer seller meets for aggressively promoting the Indian gems and jewellery industry through its various promotional activities.”
She also said, “Would like to highlight that, one of the important initiatives of the Government along with GJEPC is setting up Common Facility Centers in all major gem and jewellery clusters in India. These centers are set-up so that MSMEs primarily artisans can improve their production and quality. Three CFCs have already been set-up and the work of fourth CFC has completed in Junagadh, Gujarat, and will be inaugurated soon. We have grant for setting up 13 CFCs all across the country and we have identified clusters like Kolkata, Rajkot, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Delhi and Hyderabad. Kolkata CFC work will start in by the end of December 2018. Gold jewellery exports in the overall gems and jewellery export have been good and have registered a growth of 10.9 percent in the financial year 2017-18, as compared to the gold jewellery export in the financial year 2016-17. Currently, India is the fourth world’s largest exporter of gold jewellery. The industry needs to work together for proper branding and marketing of their products and scaleup in the value chain, by providing expensive jewellery and affordable jewellery, which will be acceptable to the millennials over the world.”
She also congratulated GJEPC for successfully organizing India Gold & Jewellery Summit which was recently organized at Delhi. The event was a think tank with the presence of key stake holders from the industry like policy makers, jewellery makers domestic and international, trade experts and we received valuable inputs as well as suggestions made by them at the event on gold policies, domestic council, common facility centers, trade policies etc. on which we are working.
Mr. Pramod Agrawal, Chairman, GJEPC addressed the gathering by saying, “In the recent past the Government has taken major steps for ease of doing business, which is helping the industry to grow. GJEPC is organizing this kind of buyer seller meets at various states, thus giving our MSMEs players a platform where they can interact with international buyers. This will also help our sellers to know the international demands and also with buyers’ guidance exhibitors can manufacture products accordingly. We have 24 Indian exhibitors showcasing trendy and latest plain gold crafted jewellery and studded jewellery to 30 international buyers from 8 countries – Bangladesh, Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, Singapore, UAE, UK, USA.”
He further said, “Whenever GJEPC has approached the ministry offices, be the commerce minister or the various secretaries, all have been very positive and proactive and have been supportive for solving the hurdles in exports related issues.”
