The India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX), in collaboration with the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), has achieved a major milestone by facilitating the country’s first-ever duty-free import of gold under the Directorate General of Foreign Trade’s (DGFT) Advance Authorisation Scheme. This breakthrough marks a new chapter in India’s bullion market, aligning with the government’s vision to streamline bullion imports through transparent and regulated channels.
Ashok Gautam, Managing Director & CEO, IIBX, said, “We thank the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) for the confidence it has bestowed on us. In our endeavour to support jewellery exports from India, IIBX has successfully enabled Advance Authorisation License Holder Qualified Jewellers to import bullion. The first transaction has been successfully concluded and cleared by Customs.”
The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), through its latest circular issued on October 10, 2025, has consolidated and updated guidelines to enable Qualified Jewellers and India-UAE CEPA Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) Holders to import gold and silver through IIBX. The circular simplifies eligibility norms, operational procedures, and compliance requirements, making the process more inclusive and efficient.
Under this mechanism, jewellers holding DGFT’s Advance Authorisation License and notified as Qualified Jewellers by IFSCA can now import gold through IIBX without paying import duty, provided the metal is used for jewellery meant for export. The platform ensures full transparency, traceability, and regulatory compliance throughout the transaction chain—from purchase on IIBX to clearance by Customs.
The development is expected to significantly boost India’s jewellery exports by reducing input costs and improving liquidity for exporters. It also strengthens IIBX’s role as a trusted global bullion marketplace operating from GIFT City’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).