• A total of 35 awards were given away at IGJA 2021  
• Mr. Praveenshankar Pandya, the director of Revashankar and former chairman of GJEPC, received the Lifetime Achievement Award 
• Upcoming Exporter of the Year, Global Retailer of the Year, Export to Highest Number of International Clients & Importing Countries, and Best E-Commerce platform are the 4 new categories added this year

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) hosted the 48th edition of India Gem and Jewellery Awards (IGJA), in association with World Gold Council, powered by GIA and co-partner Gold Star. A total of 35 awards were given away at IGJA 2021, one of the foremost recognition platforms for the jewellery sector in India, encouraging exports and award excellence in manufacturing, finance and innovation. The awards were presented by Bollywood stars Mr. Anupam Kher and Sonali Bendre along with Mr. Colin Shah, Chairman GJEPC; Mr. Sriram Natarajan, MD, GIA; Mr. Mansukh Kothari, Convener, Events, GJEPC; and Mr. Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director, GJEPC amongst others. The event was organized on 3rd August in Mumbai.

In alignment with the evolving business scenario, the 48th edition of IGJA had new award categories such as Upcoming Exporter of the Year, Global Retailer of the Year, Export to Highest Number of International Clients & Importing Countries, and Best E-Commerce platform. 

Speaking on the occasion, GJEPC Chairman, Mr. Colin Shah said, “Tonight, GJEPC salutes the entrepreneurial spirit of the Indian industry by honouring the top performers at the India Gem & Jewellery Awards 2021.The awards tell a story about how Indian companies and individuals not only navigated through one of the toughest periods but also recovered exports to pre-covid levels by overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities.  

“Going ahead, the newly implemented trade agreements with the UAE and Australia are a game changer. And in addition to boosting export growth, they will also motivate MSMEs to access overseas markets by creating a favourable business environment.” 

“While we applaud the entrepreneurial spirit exhibited by the Indian business community, our scale of expansion would not have been possible without the substantial assistance provided by the Government in the form of policies that promote trade and that foster a favourable business climate through ongoing communication.”

Mr. Anupam Kher said, “The Gem and Jewellery sector contributes immensely to the economy, and these awards are a way to appreciate the performance of players in the industry. The IGJA helps so many small enterprises and business owners in the sector that it boosts industry morale. My sincere congratulations go out to the IGJA 2021 award recipients. I wish the Council and the sector every success and hope they keep up the fantastic work they're doing to promote the industry.”

Iconic actress Sonali Bedre said, “I am so welled up to see entrepreneurs who are relentlessly working towards this collective dream of contributing more and more to the exports of the country. Congratulations to all the award winners and wish GJEPC all the very best for their future endeavors.”

Mr. Vipul Shah, Vice Chairman, GJEPC said, “The resilience of India's recent growth demonstrates the potential of the gem and jewellery industry. Last year, the gem and jewellery industry contributed a tenth to the India’s overall export target of USD 400 billion. I am sure the industry is all set to achieve its new target of USD 45.7 billion in exports for the year 2022-23.”

Mr. Mansukh Kothari, Convener, Events, GJEPC, said, “The rapid change being witnessed in the industry is demonstrated in the awards too, as some older categories make way for new ones. The large number of nominations received are a testament to the sense of pride and competition that the IGJA fosters among trade members.”

IGJA provides a platform for recognising and rewarding top performance in the industry. The awards support the MSME sector and celebrate successful women in order to motivate many more to achieve success. Companies from all over the nation, representing various sizes and product categories, are progressively participating in IGJA. The prizes are separated into three sizes: large, small, and medium. Outstanding performers in each size category are appropriately honoured.

The Winners of IGJA 2021: