Powering India’s Growth Story: GJEPC outlines its plans on the global front for the jewellery industry

The presenting partners of the Retail Jeweller World Dubai Forum 2021, GJEPC, opened its arms wide to invite the gem and jewellery sector in Dubai for further collaborations and futuristic activities

India has gradually emerged as a global leader in the gem and jewellery sector today. If there is one organisation that has aplayed a pivotal role in ensuring this transcendence, it has to be the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), India.

As presenting partners at the Retail Jeweller World Dubai Forum 2021, GJEPC took the opportunity to invite the industry leaders in the Middle East to partner with them, with an aim to take both India and the UAE to great heights in the gem and jewellery sector. Its chairman, Colin Shah, presented the council’s role and futuristic plans through a corporate audio-visual presentation.

GJEPC empowers and unifies a workforce of over 5 million with a vision to make India a premier destination for gem and jewellery.  Indian jewellery is not merely a craft, rather an art with design. Indian artisans have mastered the blend of traditional skills with cutting edge modern technology to provide world class jewellery.

GJEPC has been instrumental in the export growth of India’s 40 million gem and jewellery industry for the last five decades. From policy reforms to export promotion programmes, imparting education through institutes to enhance skill, or bringing new talent to this industry, the council is leading right from the front, striving each day to make the industry the country’s pride. It empowers the workforce through sustainable development and develops world-class infrastructure and make it accessible, and strengthen self-regulation measures. It also manages premier international gems and jewellery exhibitions in India with an intention of making a lasting difference to the world.

The presentation had Vipul Shah, vice-chairman, of GJEPC saying, “We are not only the torchbearers of our ancient traditional skills but also leaders in using modern technology. India has an edge in not only making detailed handcrafted pieces, our manufacturers and designers make top quality jewellery that caters to global tastes.”

Next Sabyasachi Ray, executive director of GJEPC appeared on screen. “With more than 7,000 members, the council plays a key role in representing the trade,” he said.

Colin Shah, who was on stage during the entire presentation, opened with a desire to collaborate and empower the industry further.

“What the council does is bring jewellers, manufacturers and retailers together. That is our main role and we are hoping to achieve that in this region. We bring everyone together through variety of activities. We try to touch their lives in everything they do, right from design, manufacturing, common facility centres, helping with workers, representing a united voice to the government, to bankers and policy makers globally,” he said.

“Just like our close collaboration with the Natural Diamond Council on diamond promotion, we also work with the World Gold Council on gold promotion. What we realised in the process is that millennials have lost touch with gold. We have a campaign which will help the cause and I am sure it will be very relevant to the Gulf region as well. If the trade body wants to take it up, we are more than happy to do it for you. As soon as we launch it on Akshaya Tritiya, we will share it with everyone here. It will help with demand creation in the region,” he added.

Shah lauded Dubai for continuing to be India’s largest trading partner even during the pandemic. “We exported nearly $10 billion worth of goods here. Between gold, diamond and even with the rough business shifting here from Antwerp in a large way, Dubai is becoming more important in the Indian scheme of things, especially for this industry. Our goal is to take gem and jewellery exports to $75 billion dollars from the current $30 billion, creating an additional 2 million jobs, and contributing to the GDP of India,” he said.

Shah thanked the Retail Jeweller World and hoped that events like this is only the start. “We expect to do more things in the future. We will also try and tie the two governments together and think about what else we can do in the area of ethical sourcing, that will touch the lives of workers in India,” he said.

Courtesy: Retail Jeweller World News