A three-member delegation from South Africa’s Gauteng IDZ, visited The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council’s Regional Office, Jaipur, on  November 17, 2016. The members of the delegation were: Maidei Matika, Sr. Manager, Stakeholder Relations, Gauteng IDZ;   Lauren Patlansky, MD, Grant Thornton (Consultants to Gauteng IDZ); and  S. C. Pradhan, Sr. Economic Advisor, South African High Commission, New Delhi.

Members of GJEPC present at the meeting included:  Pramod Kumar Agarwal, Regional Chairman; Vijay Kedia, Co-Convener, Coloured Gemstones Panel; Mehul Durlabhji, Convener, Technical & Education Committee; Nirmal Kumar Bardiya, Member, Regional Committee; Pramod Kotahwala, Member, Regional Committee; and Rajiv Jain, Member, Regional Committee.

The interaction was arranged   so that the delegation could  provide information   about the features, highlights, and benefits of having manufacturing facilities in the Gauteng IDZ and to invite gems and jewellery manufacturers  from India to take the opportunity of having a presence in the zone. 

The Gauteng IDZ, the delegation said, was conveniently located -- only six  kms away from   South Africa’s busiest airports, the Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.  The delegation explained that the concept of the IDZ (Industrial Development Zone) in South Africa was akin to that of  SEZ (Special Economic Zone)  in India.

The Gauteng IDZ is currently under construction and once completed, the South African government is keen to lease out the factory sheds being built within  it  for a period of between seven years to 45 years. The rental is expected to be about US$ 4 per square metre per month.

The delegation also informed those present that the rate of corporate tax applicable on the units operating in the zone would be  around 15% as compared to 28%   outside; and that    units in the zone would  not be subject to VAT of 14% otherwise applicable.

The members of the GJEPC asked for the details on free trade agreements of South Africa with Madagascar for rough imports; and with Mauritius, US, Europe for selling jewellery so as to check for the conditions which can benefit either the sourcing of rough coloured gemstones in South Africa or the export of  finished jewellery out to various International markets. These details, the delegation replied would  be provided after their return  to  their country.  

The team, in its turn,    requested that the details of the Gauteng IDZ be  circulated  to all  members of the GJEPC, so that the  information could reach as  wide a section of the gems and  jewellery sector as possible; and promised to provide the GJEPC, Jaipur office with a note on the project for circulation as requested.  

Pic Cap: The Gauteng IDZ delegation seen along with members of the GJEPC’s Jaipur Region  after their interaction