GJEPC Celebrates Silver Jubilee Anniversary of its Eastern Regional Office in Kolkata
The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), India’s apex trade body sponsored by the Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry, celebrated the Silver Jubilee (25th) anniversary of its Eastern Regional Office in Kolkata
Distinguished Guests and Attendees
Mr. Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC, Mr. Kirit Bhansali, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, Mr. Sabyasachi Ray, ED, GJEPC, Mr. Pankaj Parekh, Regional Chairman, Eastern India, GJEPC, Mr. Suvankar Sen, MD & CEO, Senco Gold & Diamonds, and Member SEZ Committee, GJEPC, along with honourable members and luminaries from the gem & jewellery sector, marked the milestone by attending a gala event at The Bengal Paddle Jetty in Kolkata.
Chief Guest’s Presence
Shri Shivaji H Dange, IRS, Principal Commissioner of Customs, Airport & ACC Kolkata, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
GJEPC’s Growth Commitments
Shri Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC, highlighted the Council’s vision for growth, stating:
“The Indian gem and jewellery market, currently valued at USD 85 billion, is poised for rapid growth, projected to reach USD 130 billion by 2030. GJEPC is gearing up for growth with a slew of initiatives.”
Collaboration with De Beers Group
Discussing the partnership with De Beers Group, Mr. Shah said:
“GJEPC has invested ₹150 crores in the global generic promotion of diamonds till date. To strengthen this effort, GJEPC has partnered with De Beers for the promotion of diamonds through the Retail Alliance in India, with a formal MoU signed at a special event on 7 January.”
Key Highlights of INDRA
Mr. Shah elaborated on the INDRA initiative:
“De Beers Group, the world’s leading diamond company, and GJEPC announced the commencement of a strategic collaboration to strengthen the natural diamond narrative within the Indian gem and jewellery trade. The collaboration, titled INDRA – Indian Natural Diamond Retailer Alliance, will focus on supporting independent retailers in India with tools that go beyond the conventional. For example, leveraging Artificial Intelligence to create customized retailer campaigns. From multi-lingual marketing assets to immersive storytelling and superior customer experiences, as well as in-depth natural diamond jewellery training in local languages, it will support India’s jewellery retailers with the tools they need to make sure that natural diamonds resonate deeply with every consumer.”
Success of IIJS Signature 2025
Reflecting on the success of the B2B trade show, Mr. Shah shared:
“GJEPC organized the first B2B trade show IIJS Signature 2025, which generated business of around Rs. 35,000 crore. The show has grown exponentially, featuring over 1,500 exhibitors across 3,000 stalls, covering 1.25 lakh square meters of exhibition space across two venues in Mumbai. The show welcomed 25,000+ trade visitors, including retailers from 800+ Indian cities and over 1,000 international visitors from 60+ countries.”
Expansion into Saudi Arabia
On future initiatives, Mr. Shah said:
“GJEPC will be organizing its inaugural exhibition in Saudi Arabia, set to take place in the vibrant city of Jeddah from 11-13 September 2025. This landmark event aims to serve as a gateway for strengthening bilateral trade between India and the GCC region, unlocking unparalleled opportunities for collaboration and growth. This will serve as a gateway to boost bilateral trade between India and the GCC region.”
Partnership with DHL Express
Speaking on advancing e-commerce exports, Mr. Shah stated:
“Additionally, in a move to boost gem and jewellery exports via e-commerce, GJEPC signed an MoU with DHL Express, the global leader in international express services, to facilitate the efficient shipping of India-crafted jewellery worldwide.”
Collaboration with State Governments
Highlighting state-level collaborations, Mr. Shah explained:
“GJEPC and the Maharashtra Govt. are collaborating on skill development and certifications to strengthen the future workforce. By integrating skill development with cutting-edge technology, we are not only transforming the Indian gem and jewellery industry but also fostering innovation, sustainability, and trust. Our commitment to nurturing talent, advancing infrastructure, and promoting transparency ensures that India remains a global leader in this dynamic sector.”
Optimism for Export Growth
Expressing hope for export growth, Mr. Shah remarked:
“With American President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, there is hope for renewed stability in the geopolitical landscape, revitalized trade, and stronger supply chains, driving global demand for gems and jewellery. However, GJEPC is continuously exploring new markets while strengthening its presence in existing ones.”
Development of Singur as an Export Hub
Discussing the development of Singur, Mr. Shah said:
“GJEPC is also planning to make Singur (West Bengal) as a global export hub for fashion and costume jewellery. Singur has a skilled workforce of around 1 lakh Bengali kaarigars, who are working in manufacturing units located in and around Singur, Hooghly. In fact, 20% of the workforce are women, and the development of Singur as an export hub will give a boost to the local cottage industry too. Vendors who import raw materials are located in Singur. Imported quality Gypsum manufacturing also started in Singur recently. Singur in Hooghly district is ideally located centrally and close to 5 railway stations, close to NH-2 which is connected to Kolkata International Airport. Singur has artisanal heritage as Kolkata’s renowned craftsmanship serves as a foundation, offering a rich legacy of artistic skills that can be leveraged by Singur’s jewellery manufacturers.”
Strengths of India’s Gem & Jewellery Sector
Discussing India’s global strengths, Mr. Shah noted:
“India’s gem & jewellery business has two strengths: the first of which is quality in design & aesthetics and smart-tech for jewellery manufacturing as well as knowledge. The knowledge has to penetrate deeper so that India can become a knowledge and skill hub of the global gem & jewellery trade. With unparalleled capacity, advanced technology, skilled artisans, and talented designers, we are prepared to excel on the global stage. Together, we will contribute significantly to the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of a Viksit Bharat.”
Vision for INDRA’s Impact
Highlighting the impact of INDRA, Mr. Shah said:
“Indra is designed to harness this momentum by tapping into India’s dynamic young population, the rise of organised players, and increasing demand across bridal, everyday wear, fashion, and entry-level jewellery. This initiative reflects a shared vision to educate stakeholders, empower retailers, and boost consumer demand, all while highlighting the timeless value of natural diamonds. Retailers will benefit from multi-lingual staff training modules focused on generic natural diamond product knowledge as well as access to a market intelligence portal. The programme will also provide customisable marketing assets and content for retailers to promote natural diamonds at a store level as they seek to enhance their returns and expand their customer base.”
About The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC)
The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), set up by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India (GoI) in 1966, is one of several Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) launched by the Indian Government, to boost the country’s export thrust, when India’s post-Independence economy began making forays in the international markets. Since 1998, the GJEPC has been granted autonomous status. The GJEPC is the apex body of the gems & jewellery industry and today represents 10,500+ members in the sector. With headquarters in Mumbai, GJEPC has Regional Offices in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Surat, and Jaipur, all of which are major centres for the industry. It thus has a wide reach and is able to have a closer interaction with members to serve them in a direct and more meaningful manner. Over the past decades, GJEPC has emerged as one of the most active EPCs and has continuously strived to both expand its reach and depth in its promotional activities as well as widen and increase services to its members.
