Building on its recent UK engagements, GJEPC strengthened its presence in Southern Europe during the India-Greece Business Forum, where Shaunak Parikh, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, represented India’s gem and jewellery industry as part of the high-level business delegation accompanying Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal.
Organised by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), the forum brought together senior government and business leaders from both countries. H.E. Shri Ravi Shankar, Ambassador of India to Greece, addressed delegates alongside Greek ministers and industry leaders, while the Indian delegation included Sanjay Tugnait, President & CEO, Fairfax Digital Services.
During the sectoral roundtables, Parikh highlighted opportunities to expand jewellery trade with Greece and position the country as a gateway to Southern Europe. The programme also included meetings with Fokion Karavias, CEO of Eurobank, and interactions with the Greek startup ecosystem, government officials and industry leaders to explore investment and commercial partnerships.
Although India’s gem and jewellery exports to Greece currently stand at US$1.65 million, GJEPC sees significant scope for growth. With Greece’s total merchandise imports exceeding US$93 billion and India’s gem & jewellery exports to the country at US$1.65 million, GJEPC is focused on unlocking new trade opportunities and positioning Greece as a gateway to Southern Europe.
The Greece engagements complement GJEPC’s broader European expansion strategy. Following its participation in the UK leg of the trade mission, where the India–UK FTA is expected to help raise India’s gem and jewellery exports to the UK to US$2.5 billion and bilateral trade to nearly US$7 billion, the Council is now focused on developing new growth markets across Europe.