Late last evening, Shri Suresh Prabhu, Honourable Minister for Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation announced that the ministry had decided to set up a 12-member ad-hoc committee for deciding on the structure of a Domestic Council for the gem and jewellery industry in India.

The government is seeking to ensure that it will bring together all segments of the gem and jewellery industry – from mines to market, small to big, village to metro.

Welcoming the announcement, GJEPC Chairman Pramod Agrawal said, “We express our thanks to the Honourable Minister for taking the great initiative of reforming this industry to take it forward.”

Additional details regarding the composition and working of the committee are awaited.