India's gems and jewellery exports may fall 5-7 pc in FY'20 :GJEPC

India's gross exports of gems and jewellery sector are expected to decline 5-7 percent in 2019-20 as compared to the previous fiscal, on account of the global downturn and rise in gold prices which have affected domestic demand. As per the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), net exports of the sector declined 5.32 percent to USD 30.96 billion in 2018-19, mainly on account of slowdown in demand in major developed markets.

"Last year it (gross exports) was around USD 40 billion. This year we are looking at 5 to 7 percent decline," said GJEPC Executive Director Sabyasachi Ray. Besides, Chairman Pramod Kumar Agarwal said the Council has requested the government that finished jewellery be kept out of the purview of proposed mega trade deal RCEP to protect the interests of domestic manufacturers.

The Council has also demanded that the import duty on finished diamonds and coloured gemstones be brought down to 2.5 percent from 7.5 percent at present. Ray was addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the opening of a gems and jewellery export facilitation center here.

Agarwal said the center will facilitate the growth of exports with main focus on North India and also boost outbound shipments. He said the Council has started setting up new common facilitation centers with the help of commerce and industry ministry and these are coming up in Delhi, Jaipur, Coimbatore, and Kolkata.

He said the GJEPC expects outbound shipments of the sector to touch USD 75 billion in the next 4-5 years and create 1.5-2 million jobs to add to 5.5 million workforces at present. Ray said a facility for auction of the rough diamond will come up in Surat in a month's time.

To boost shipments from the sector, the Council is looking at establishing jewellery parks in major clusters across the country. The jewellery park coming up in Mumbai will have more than 2,000 units and boost exports by USD 6-8 billion, Agarwal said. He said its construction will begin in 5 to 6 months and is expected to be completed in 3-4 years.