The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) in association with the MSME Development Institute (MSME-DI), Indore, which is part of the MSME Ministry, Government of India, and the Madhya Pradesh Swarnakar Kalyan Samiti (MPSKM) held a seminar on Export Opportunities for Cluster based MSMEs for jewellers at Bhopal on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 to create awareness about exports.

The day’s programme commenced with presentations by Shri Nilesh Trivedi and Shri Raj Mohnani, both Assistant Directors with MSME-DI, Indore who stressed that a firm should be registered under the Udyog Aadhar scheme to avail of government benefits for the MSME sector, and that traders could not be registered under it.

They provided detailed information on various schemes of the Government of India and the state government, related to technology, interest subvention, skill training and schemes for students, trademarks, patents, cluster development etc. They also urged the trade to enrol for the Udyog Aadhar scheme.

Subsequently, Shri Seemant Saxena, Assistant Commissioner, GST, provided detailed information regarding GST, covering issues like the turnover limits for exemption, the rates and filing deadlines for different segments, etc, as well as how to integrate the various taxes including CGST and IGST.

SBI Bank representative Shri Abhinav Tripathi provided detailed information about pre and post shipment credit for domestic and export business and assured the industry of cooperation in fulfilling all their needs.

Both sessions were also addressed by Mithilesh Pandey, Director GJEPC, who spoke about the various activities of the Council and highlighted the enormous potential in the export sector and the benefits of becoming a member. His presentations covered welfare schemes of the Council such as Parichay Card, Swasthya Ratna and Swasthya Kosh medical insurance schemes as well as the trade promotion activities including Common Facility Centres, Jewellery Park, IIJS Signature, IIJS Premiere, IGJME, the IGJS export show, Call Centre, Mobile App, etc.

GJEPC representative Mrunali Elle also explained the meaning and definition of MSME and various government schemes to encourage the sector and boost exports such as assistance for participation in exhibitions, Technology Upgradation Scheme, Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme, interest subvention and other incentives, skill development programmes, etc.

Other speakers included Shri Deepak Lodhwal who spoke about various aspects of Hallmarking including purity standards, procedures to obtain license and feed payable on the basis of annual turnover, etc. Shri Vikas Dholepure, ECGC, who provided information on coverage being provided by them for exporters to compensate for the risks involved, etc.

Shri Pradeep Mahor, Team 2 Digital, spoke on how to one could commence online sales of jewellery and what tools to use to advertise on Facebook, Instagram, etc by targeting customers according to age, income or other variables.

Ms. Ashi Prakhar, Novel Exim, an Independent Consultant shared information about GST, exports and DGFT, while Shri Amol spoke about Godrej safes and how these could add a new dimension to security.

Shri Rajesh Verma and Smt Bandana Mahor also urged the jewellers to enrol as members of of GJEPC and avail of the benefits of the Parichay Card, while office bearers of various other district associations also spoke about the work being done by the GJEPC.

A large number of jewellers, including traders and artisans, participated in the discussions.