NewsIndia Launches the Global Jewellery Business Year with the Grand Opening of IIJS Bharat – Signature 2026
IIJS Bharat – Signature 2026 is projected to generate business worth approximately INR 75,000 crore over the next three months. The Indian gems and jewellery industry remains firmly on course to achieve USD 100 billion in exports by 2047, in alignment with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat, said the Chairman of GJEPC.
The 18th edition of IIJS Bharat – Signature 2026 features over 1,600 exhibitors and more than 3,300 stalls spread across 1.25 lakh square metres at two leading venues in Mumbai. The event is hosting upwards of 25,000 trade buyers, including 1,400 international buyers from 40 countries and 12 global buyer delegations.
India once again asserted its leadership in the global gems and jewellery sector as the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) inaugurated IIJS Bharat – Signature 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre (JWCC), Mumbai, officially marking the beginning of the global jewellery trade calendar for the year.
Recognised as the year’s first and most impactful B2B jewellery exhibition, IIJS Bharat – Signature 2026 convenes the entire international value chain at a crucial moment when market sentiment, sourcing priorities, and business strategies for the year ahead take shape.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Chief Guest Sandrine Conseiller, CEO of De Beers Brands and Chair of the Natural Diamond Council, along with Guests of Honour Harsha Bangari, Managing Director of EXIM Bank, and Saumen Bhaumik, Managing Director of CaratLane. The event was inaugurated in the presence of Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, GJEPC; Shaunak Parikh, Vice Chairman and Convener – National Exhibitions, GJEPC; and Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director, GJEPC, together with members of the Committee of Administration, exhibitors, buyers, and key stakeholders from the global gems and jewellery industry.
IIJS Bharat – Signature 2026 is being held concurrently at two premier Mumbai venues—the Jio World Convention Centre from 8 to 11 January 2026 and the Bombay Exhibition Centre, NESCO, Goregaon from 9 to 12 January 2026—alongside IGJME Bharat – Signature 2026, which showcases jewellery machinery and technology.
Covering an expansive 1.25 lakh square metres, the exhibition brings together more than 1,600 exhibitors across 3,300+ stalls and welcomes over 25,000 trade buyers from 800+ Indian cities, including 1,400 international buyers representing 40 countries and 12 international delegations. The platform offers comprehensive sourcing across gold, diamond, silver and studded jewellery, loose natural diamonds, coloured gemstones, couture and fine jewellery, lab-grown diamonds, as well as machinery and allied sectors.
In her address, Chief Guest Sandrine Conseiller remarked that India is the ideal destination to discuss the future of jewellery. She noted that from being the birthplace of the global diamond story to becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing jewellery markets, India continues to serve as a pillar of stability and opportunity. She added that platforms such as IIJS Signature are instrumental in building trust, partnerships, and confidence across the industry while reinforcing India’s central role in global jewellery trade.
GJEPC Chairman Kirit Bhansali stated that as the first major international showcase of the year, IIJS Bharat – Signature reflects the Indian gem and jewellery industry’s confidence, resilience, and global preparedness. He emphasised that India stands at the crossroads of trust, transparency, and opportunity, a narrative brought to life through IIJS.
Highlighting India’s growing global leadership, Bhansali added that in 2026, India will assume the Kimberley Process Chairmanship for the third time, underlining international confidence in the country’s ethical trade practices. With the sector targeting USD 100 billion in exports by 2047, he noted that growth will be driven by free trade agreements, strong government support, market diversification, advances in manufacturing and technology, and retail expansion—anchored in transparency and consumer trust to ensure sustainable long-term progress.
Harsha Bangari, Managing Director of EXIM Bank, underscored the importance of finance and infrastructure, stating that the gems and jewellery sector plays a vital role in India’s exports and employment. He highlighted the need to strengthen infrastructure, enhance awareness of financial products, address skill and technology gaps, and ease trade bottlenecks to unlock the full export potential of industry clusters.
Saumen Bhaumik, Managing Director of CaratLane, emphasised that sustained investment in skills and craftsmanship is essential as the industry continues to expand. He noted that prioritising artisans is not an act of charity but a strategic business decision, adding that dignity, pride, and security for craftsmen must remain central to India’s ambition of global leadership.
Shaunak Parikh, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, stated that IIJS Bharat – Signature 2026 showcases India’s strong global standing across manufacturing excellence, design innovation, and a rapidly expanding domestic market. As the first major international jewellery fair of the year, he said it is the platform where the global industry looks to India for direction, opportunity, and growth.
Inspired by India’s diverse art forms and guided by the overarching theme “Brilliant Bharat,” the Crafts Pavilion at IIJS Bharat – Signature 2026 celebrates the nation’s rich jewellery heritage through curated exhibits and live demonstrations by National Award-winning artisans. The pavilion highlights GI-tagged crafts such as Thewa (gold on glass), Banarasi Meenakari, Cuttack’s historic silver filigree, and distinctive silver work from the Hupari cluster, offering visitors insight into India’s living craft traditions.
The exhibition also features Select CLUB, an exclusive luxury segment at JWCC showcasing high-end couture and fine jewellery from 107 curated companies, along with Innov8 Talks & Symposium Knowledge Forums. These sessions address key industry themes, including the future of natural diamonds, free trade agreements, lab-grown diamond technology, ease of doing business, and the role of artificial intelligence in jewellery by 2030.
Aligned with GJEPC’s One Earth sustainability initiative, IIJS Bharat – Signature 2026 continues its focus on responsible exhibitions. This includes the elimination of over 600,000 single-use plastic water bottles at the Bombay Exhibition Centre and the wider adoption of environmentally conscious practices.
With global buyers, industry leaders, and policymakers gathering in Mumbai, IIJS Bharat – Signature 2026 is set to define the direction of the gems and jewellery industry for the year ahead—bringing together heritage, innovation, sustainability, and global business opportunity on a single, powerful platform.