GJEPC partially reopens Jaipur and Surat offices

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
May 6, 2020

The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council partially reopened its regional offices in Jaipur and Surat on Monday. The Gem Testing Laboratory also reopened on Monday as international jewellery trade tentatively restarts.

 
As economically important businesses and production facilities begin to partially reopen during the extended pan-India lockdown, the GJEPC has partially reopened two of its key regional offices, the organisation announced on its website. The offices have reopened following government health and safety regulations designed to minimise the potential for the spread of Covid-19 including using a reduced workforce. 
 
The GJEPC aims to support the gem and jewellery industry to gradually and safely increase export trade now its Surat and Jaipur offices are open. “One of the key benefits of the reopening will be that the GJEPC office in Surat can start issuing of KP certificates for processing of export parcels,” said the GJEPC. “Export shipments of diamonds, particularly to Hong Kong, have resumed, albeit in a limited way from last week.”

The GJEPC’s decision to partially reopen the two regional offices follows the partial reopening of gem and jewellery manufacturing in Jaipur’s Export Promotion Industrial Park and Special Economic Zone 1 and 2 and Surat’s SEZ. Production resumed in a limited capacity on April 27. The Surat Hira Bourse has exported 10 shipments since reopening and eight units have restarted operations in Surat’s SEZ. 
 
The Gem Testing Laboratory in gem hub Jaipur also reopened on Monday. As one of the largest labs in India’s coloured gemstone trade, the reopening will allow the gem trade to slowly start up business again.