The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), India’s top trade body supported by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, commemorated the Silver Jubilee (25th) anniversary of the Eastern Regional Office in Kolkata.
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; and many honorable members and luminaries from the gem & jewellery sector marked the milestone by attending a gala event at The Bengal Paddle Jetty in Kolkata.
Shivaji H Dange, IRS, Principal Commissioner of Customers, Airport & ACC Kolkata, served as the event’s Chief Guest.
Shri Vipul Shah, Chairman of GJEPC, emphasized the Council’s commitment to promoting growth. He stated, “The Indian gem and jewellery market, which is currently valued at USD 85 billion, is expected to grow rapidly, reaching USD 130 billion by 2030.” GJEPC is preparing for development with a host of projects.
Mr. Shah discussed the relationship with De Beers Group, stating that GJEPC has invested ₹150 crores in worldwide diamond promotion to date. To reinforce this endeavor, GJEPC has joined with De Beers to promote diamonds through Retail Alliance in India, with a formal MoU inked at a special event on January 7th.”
De Beers Group, the world’s top diamond manufacturer, and GJEPC have announced the start of a strategic partnership to reinforce the natural diamond narrative in the Indian gem and jewellery trade. The initiative, called INDRA – Indian Natural Diamond Retailer Alliance, will focus on providing independent dealers in India with capabilities that go beyond the norm. For example, using Artificial Intelligence to generate personalized retail marketing. From multilingual marketing assets to immersive storytelling and superior customer experiences, as well as in-depth natural diamond jewellery training in local languages, it will provide India’s jewelry retailers with the tools they need to ensure that natural diamonds resonate deeply with every consumer, according to Mr. Shah.
GJEPC held the first B2B trade event, IIJS Signature 2025, which earned around Rs. 35,000 crore in revenue. The show has grown tremendously, with over 1,500 exhibitors and 3,000 stalls occupying 1.25 lakh square meters of display area over two sites in Mumbai. The expo attracted over 25,000 trade visitors, including shops from 800 Indian locations and over 1,000 international visitors from 60 countries.
“GJEPC will hold its maiden exhibition in Saudi Arabia from September 11 to 13, 2025, in the bustling city of Jeddah. This historic event seeks to act as a springboard for increased bilateral trade between India and the GCC area, opening up unprecedented potential for collaboration and growth. “This will serve as a gateway to increase bilateral trade between India and the GCC region,” Mr. Shah stated.
Furthermore, in an effort to increase gem and jewellery exports through e-commerce, GJEPC signed an MoU with DHL Express, the world’s leading provider of international express services, to assist the efficient transportation of India-crafted jewelry around the world, according to Mr. Shah.
Mr. Shah wishes to engage with various states. “GJEPC and the Maharashtra government are working together on skill development and certifications to boost the future workforce. By combining talent development with cutting-edge technology, we are not only revolutionizing the Indian gem and jewellery business, but also encouraging creativity, sustainability, and trust. “Our commitment to developing talent, improving infrastructure, and promoting transparency ensures that India remains a global leader in this dynamic sector,” Mr. Shah stated.
On the export front, Mr. Shah remained confident about 2025. With American President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, there is hope for increased geopolitical stability, reinvigorated commerce, and stronger supply chains, which will drive worldwide demand for gems and jewellery. However, GJEPC is constantly exploring new markets while expanding its footprint in existing ones,” Mr. Shah stated.
GJEPC also intends to establish Singur (West Bengal) as a global export hub for fashion and costume jewellery. Singur has a trained workforce of approximately 1 lakh Bengali kaarigars who operate in manufacturing facilities in and around Singur, Hooghly. In fact, women account for 20% of the workforce, and Singur’s expansion as an export hub will also benefit the local cottage industry. Singur houses vendors who import raw materials. Imported high-quality gypsum manufacture has recently begun in Singapore. Singur in Hooghly district is conveniently positioned near 5 railway stations and NH-2, which connects to Kolkata International Airport.
Singur has an artisanal past since Kolkata’s renowned craftsmanship acts as a foundation, providing a rich legacy of artistic abilities that may be used by Singur’s jewellery manufacturers.” He continued, “Shifting global trade dynamics, with the US steering procurement away from China, create a strategic opportunity for Singur’s manufacturers to meet this need and boost their worldwide footprint.
India’s gem and jewellery industry has two strengths: first, excellence in design and aesthetics, and second, smart-tech for jewellery manufacturing and knowledge. The information must permeate deeper so that India can become a knowledge and talent hub for the global gem and jewellery industries. With unrivaled capacity, innovative technology, skilled artisans, and smart designers, we are ready to compete on a worldwide scale. Mr. Shah stated that together, we would make a meaningful contribution to the Honourable Prime Minister’s vision of a Viksit Bharat.