GJEPC, in association with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, organized an Outreach Program on leveraging Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) for exports. The program was chaired by Shri Mohit Yadav, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India, and attended by Shri Moin Afaque, Joint DGFT, RA Jaipur, along with Ms. Anukriti Singh, General Manager, District Industries Centre (DIC), Government of Rajasthan. Representatives from DICs across various districts of Rajasthan and over 70 exporters also participated virtually. Also present on the occasion was Shri Pramod Agrawal, Chairman, National Gem & Jewellery Council of India (NGJCI) and former Chairman GJEPC.
In his opening remarks, Shri Mohit Yadav highlighted the Government’s efforts to enable exporters to benefit from FTAs, which provide duty-free access to major markets such as Switzerland, the UK, UAE, and Australia. He encouraged exporters to take full advantage of these opportunities and assured the Department of Commerce’s continued support in facilitating exports.
Shri Moin Afaque delivered a detailed presentation on the existing FTAs, their benefits for the gems and jewellery sector, and ways to maximize export opportunities. He also briefed participants about the Government of India’s Export Promotion Mission (EPM), which offers support for overseas exhibitions, trade delegations, certifications, logistics, and other export-related activities. The presentation further covered opportunities in cross-border e-commerce and policy initiatives aimed at enhancing ease of doing business.
The session concluded with an interactive discussion during which participants, including those attending virtually, raised various queries and concerns. Members requested faster issuance of Certificates of Origin (CoO), noting that approvals in some cases take more than a week. The trade also urged the Government to consider establishing a Special Notified Zone (SNZ) for coloured gemstones in Jaipur, similar to the existing SNZ for diamonds, as both commodities have comparable sourcing and trading requirements. Shri Mohit Yadav and Shri Moin Afaque took note of the issues raised and assured appropriate consideration and prompt resolution.