On June 29th, Union Minister Piyush Goyal visited Bharat Ratnam – Mega CFC, a project of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and SEEPZ. During the event, GJEPC highlighted its strategic initiatives, which have significantly contributed to the resilience, growth, and stability of the Indian gem and jewellery industry amidst global challenges. The event, held at the Bharat Ratnam Mega CFC in SEEPZ, featured the presence of several esteemed guests, including Shri Dnyaneshwar B. Patil, IAS, Development Commissioner, SEEPZ-SEZ; Shri C.P.S. Chauhan, IRS, Joint Development Commissioner, SEEPZ; Shri Kirit Bhansali, Vice Chairman, GJEPC; Shri Subir Das, Executive Director of ECGC; Dr. Unnat P Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM), India Patent Office and Shri Colin Shah, Head of the Working Group for Bharat Ratnam, Mega CFC.
In his keynote address, Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industry said, “I am immensely proud of how the Mega Common Facility Center (CFC) has developed. It stands on par with the best in the world, truly one of a kind. This achievement reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. I am thrilled to see 200 students here, skilled and assured of jobs. The potential for industry growth is tremendous. Beyond the CFC, the Jewellery Park adds even more shine to Mumbai’s gem and jewellery industry. As we celebrate SEEPZ’s 50th year, the Mega CFC stands as a remarkable gift. The modernization of SEEPZ, through vertical growth, will accommodate more exporters and significantly boost exports. Despite the current geopolitical challenges, I am confident that India will achieve USD 800 billion in exports.”
Goyal also assured, “The ministry is expeditiously pursuing the process of signing FTAs with several countries to drive exports.”
Shri Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC, highlighting the pivotal role of FTAs signed by the Minister, said, “India-UAE CEPA, India-Australia ECTA, and the recent FTA with Europe’s EFTA have been instrumental in boosting exports to these countries. Post India-UAE CEPA, India’s plain gold jewellery has grown substantially, reflecting an impressive growth of 107.2% to USD 4,528.66 million in FY 2023-24.”
Shri Kirit Bhansali, Vice Chairman, GJEPC noted, “The success of the Bharat Ratnam – Mega CFC is owed to Shri Piyush Goyal’s steadfast leadership for bringing this initiative to fruition. The Mega CFC is a game-changer for our industry and it will surely help us to achieve the goal of $75 billion in exports and realise the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.”
Bhansali further added, “The India Jewellery Park in Mumbai, poised to revolutionise the industry with comprehensive infrastructure solutions, is expected to attract investments of Rs. 50,000 crores and generate over 100,000 jobs.”
The event also featured presentations from key industry stakeholders. Shri Subir Das, Executive Director of ECGC, provided insights on recent initiatives and schemes by ECGC. Shri C.P.S Chauhan, IRS, Joint Development Commissioner of SEEPZ gave a presentation on “SEEPZ Infra Projects”.
Chauhan said, “The SEEPZ Zone’s exports stood at Rs. 2,14,205 crore for the FY 2023-24, marking a year-on-year growth of 13.7%. SEEPZ is India’s no. 1 multi-sector exporter and accounts for 17% of India’s SEZ exports.”
Additionally, Shri Colin Shah, Head of the Working Group for Bharat Ratnam Mega CFC, delivered a presentation on the Mega CFC, highlighting that the project was accomplished in just 14 months and has been operational successfully. Colin Shah said, “The Mega CFC is a social project that aligns with the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, supporting MSMEs and clusters to boost exports and GDP.” He added that the 150 recent graduates from the Mega CFC’s training & skilling centre are now employed in SEEPZ and MIDC.
Dr. Unnat P. Pandit, CGPDTM of the India Patent Office, shared his expertise on the IP-driven economy with his presentation on “New India, a Global Innovation Hub.”