The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) organized a Seminar on “How to Export and GJEPC’s MSME initiatives” on May 25 at Aurangabad. The programme was organised jointly with the Saraf Association Aurangabad.

A part of the Council’s endeavour to promote the MSME sector of the Indian gem & jewellery industry by regularly organizing the seminars, workshops and camps across the country, the event had about 40 participants from the local industry.

Key presentations at the seminar were made by Ajit Shah of Universal Connections, Mithilesh Pandey, Director, Head Membership & MSME Benefits and Amrit Patel of the business development team at GIA.

Shah spoke about the benefits of entering the export market and how jewellers could take steps in this direction. He covered the different export-import procedures and documentation involved, details of bank loans and government subsidies which can be availed, and touched upon several other export incentives such as duty drawback, advance authorisation, MEIS, EPCG etc. that are available.

Other themes that Shah explained to the jewellers were the Market Access Initiative Scheme and related fiscal incentives; Export documentation and finance; ECGC (Export Credit Guarantee Corporation) schemes; and the systems to be followed under the GST (Goods and Service Tax) regime.

Pandey explained the definition of the MSME sector and went on to talk about existing schemes (interest subvention, other finance related schemes) and Udhyog Aadhar Registration; CFC (Common Facility Centre) / Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness scheme, etc. which could be availed of by companies that fulfilled the MSME criteria.

He gave a brief overview of the CFC facility which is going to be set up at the Jewellery Park at Mahape, Mumbai and said that a similar CFC could be considered at Dhule too.

After that Pandey elaborated on the various benefits of becoming a member of GJEPC and the initiatives the Council has taken for the MSME sector such as Parichay Card and Swasthya Kosh-Health Insurance. He invited the jewellers to participate in IIJS and gave an overview of the Council’s training institutes, its Hindi magazine Drishtikone, the upcoming Jewellery Park, the Call Centre, Help Desk and Mobile App, the India Diamond Trading Centre, etc.

Amrit Patel introduced the various GIA laboratory services and various trade initiatives

Mithilesh Pandey gave the Vote of Thanks.