GJEPC Hosts First Buyer Seller Meet in Kolkata

The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) hosted its first annual Buyer Seller Meet in Kolkata, the capital of India’s West Bengal state, on Dec. 4–5.

The initiative, which aims to bridge the gap between buyers and sellers in a potentially large market, saw its first event in Kolkata, with participating countries such as Bangladesh, Bahrain, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and others. Twenty-four Indian jewelry manufacturers comprised one-half of the one-on-one meetings with businesses such as jewelry retailers.

The meet was attended by Rupa Dutta, economic adviser of the government of India’s ministry of commerce and industry, as well as GJEPC chairman, Pramod Agrawal. Both addressed the attendees of the event. Dutta spoke about the importance of the Indian jewelry trade to its government, citing its potential for job growth. She also emphasized the importance of the development of common facility centers, an initiative between the government of India and GJEPC to encourage higher production and quality among jewelry artisans.

“In the recent past, the government has taken major steps for ease of doing business, which is helping the industry to grow,” said Agrawal, in his speech to the event’s attendees, as noted in a press release. “Whenever GJEPC has approached the ministry offices, whether the commerce minister or the various secretaries, all have been very positive and proactive and have been supportive for solving the hurdles in exports-related issues.”

For more information on this and other events, visit gjepc.org.

Brittany Siminitz

JCK Contributing Editor