GJEPC felicitates Export Awards Winners in Jaipur

Talks With Diamond Producing Nations Are In Progress To Source Rough Directly

36th Annual Awards for the Gem and Jewellery industry

Published on:

12 Jan 2010, 8:37 am

The occasion was 36th Annual Awards for the Gem and Jewellery industry organized by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council in Jaipur on January 9th, 2010 where industry made demands and the government promised to fulfill them.

While addressing the gathering Vasant Mehta Chairman GJEPC said, “With the total exports worth USD 21233 million in the financial year 2008-09 precious industry's contribution to the Indian economy is undeniable. With these awards, we at GJEPC not only acknowledge the efforts of the winners who have been at the forefront of our growth but we also hope that their victory at this platform only urges the industry to emulate with example.” He further asked the government for continuous support like decreasing presumption tax from 6% to 3% and introduction of 80 HHC benefits for minimum next three years. “We need a tax structure similar to that of other competitive nations in order to make India a truly global gem and jewellery hub,” he said. More delegations to diamond producing nations, an appropriate economic and policy climate to promote international participation in the gem bourses across the world, land for a Gem Bourse and convention centre in Jaipur were amongst his other asks from the government.

Fortunately, both ministers were responsive to the concerns of the trade. Minister of Commerce, Anand Sharma said, “The Gem and Jewellery Sector is one of the highest contributors to this robust economy accounting for 13.63% of total merchandise exports. It thus becomes imperative for the ministry to lend support to GJEPC in all its endeavors.” He further acknowledged the impact of the downturn on the industry, “We took measures to diminish the damage following which Indian economy performed better than other countries. Combined efforts were made to minimize job loses.” He assured that other measures like duty drawbacks to the gem and jewellery industry, abolishment of import duty from polished diamonds, procurement of rough directly from the producing nations to maximize profits and foreign trade policy to create a gem bourse have either been already deployed or are in process to propel the industry's growth. Rajasthan CM also promised to fulfill unmet demands of the trade. According to him, the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor will benefit the state and its industries to a major extent.

Anand Sharma urged the industry to work towards betterment of the labor class. He felt that these are the people who needed to be taken care the most, “The beautiful jewellery decorates the wealthy but my heart and mind goes to those who make it. They are the sons and daughters who are the silent sufferers, therefore we should create an environment that is conducive for the entire trade at large including the underprivileged,” he said. He also mentioned that the government is in talks with the industry to educate and train workers such that they can be introduced to the centre of the business and even talked about creating a social net through insurance and other policies for workers.

The total exports for the country grew by 7.87 percent with figures amounting to INR 84671.74 crores for the period April-November 2009. The exports for cut and polished Diamonds registered a growth of 9.50% with figures of INR 51644 crores in April- November 2009. The figures for gold jewellery exports were INR 28834.29 lakhs. Colored gemstones have registered a growth of 10.23% with export figures of April-November 2009 INR 908.60 crores.

In totality, the occasion emitted positivism and growth promises for the trade and concluded with a vote of thanks from Award Committee Convener Pramod Derewala.

Exports Award Winners for 2008-09

CUT & POLISHED DIAMONDS - DTC

1. KIRAN GEMS PVT. LTD.
2. SHEETAL MFG. CO. PVT. LTD.
3. LAXMI DIAMOND PVT. LTD.
4. DHARMANANDAN DIAMONDS

CUT & POLISHED DIAMONDS (OTHERS)

1. J.B. & BROTHERS
2. HARI KRISHNA EXPORTS
3. STAR RAYS
4. ANTRIX DIAMOND EXPORTS PVT. LTD.

STUDDED GOLD JEWELLERY (DTA)

1. KAMA-SCHACHTER JEWELRY PVT. LTD.

PLAIN GOLD JEWELLERY (DTA)

1. SCG EXPORTS PVT. LTD.

PLAIN PRECIOUS METAL JEWELLERY EXPORT BY UNITS FROM EOU/EPZ

1. SHREE GANESH JEWELLERY HOUSE LTD.

STUDDED PRECIOUS METAL JEWELLERY FROM EPZ/EOU COMPLEXES