National News
DGFT Summit Explores E-commerce’s Role in Boosting Gem & Jewellery Export Potential
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) hosted an E-commerce Export Summit at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, on 11th March, gathering industry leaders to explore the growing potential of e-commerce in enhancing retail exports. Mr. Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director of GJEPC, delivered a keynote presentation on ‘Enhancing Retail Exports through E-commerce.’
In his opening remarks, Mr. Ray emphasized the critical role of e-commerce platforms in driving growth for the gem and jewellery sector. He noted that e-commerce is particularly well-suited to this industry due to the low volume and high value of its products, making it ideal for cross-border trade. He expressed confidence that businesses in the sector will see substantial growth in the near future, driven by the accessibility and scalability of e-commerce.
Mr. Ray also provided insights into recent foreign trade policy reforms introduced by the Government of India. These regulatory changes have significantly eased e-commerce exports, contributing to the sector’s remarkable growth. Currently, India’s gem and jewellery exports total $38 billion, with projections aiming for $100 billion by 2047, largely fueled by the expanding e-commerce landscape.
He advised exporters to focus on identifying key product markets and understanding consumer preferences to secure repeat business. Additionally, he highlighted the recent partnerships formed by the GJEPC with major e-commerce platforms like eBay, Amazon, and DHL, aiming to provide a seamless export experience for its members.
National News
WGC India Gold Market Update: Import Tightening
Part Of A Broader Push To Conserve Foreign Exchange Reserves Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty and Mounting Pressure On The INR
Highlights
- Gold import duty was raised sharply by 9%– from 6% to 15%, the steepest increase on record – alongside broader regulatory tightening
- Domestic gold prices have not yet fully reflected the duty hike amid weak demand and ample supply; local markets are currently in deep discount from the landed price
- Past trends indicate that higher duty increases unofficial inflows, although official imports remain relatively resilient
- Gold demand is expected to moderate in 2026, with jewellery and bar and coin demand projected to decline by 50–60t (~10% y/y) on account of the import duty hike.
Policy actions on gold imports
Since early April, the government has adopted a series of measures aimed at moderating gold imports. These have been part of a broader push to conserve foreign exchange reserves amid geopolitical uncertainty and mounting pressure on the INR, which has depreciated by more than 7% y-t-d. These measures include price-based actions, administrative and regulatory tightening, and consumer-directed messaging. While noteworthy, they are not unprecedented; gold is among the top five imports for India, accounting for 8% of the country’s merchandise imports in 2025, and similar measures have been utilised in the past.
On the price front, the gold import duty was raised sharply from 6% to 15%, making it the single largest increase on record and fully reversing the duty cut of July 2024. Rules were also tightened for gold imports linked to exports (under the advance authorisation scheme), and the Prime Minister has directly appealed to consumers, urging them to avoid buying gold for a year.
-
National News7 hours agoWGC India Gold Market Update: Import Tightening
-
BrandBuzz12 hours agoGIVA and Kriti Sanon Come Together For A New Era Of Modern Jewellery
-
National News12 hours agoGold Rates In India Decline, Silver Rates Unchanged
-
BrandBuzz12 hours agoSennes From The House Of Senco Brings The Glamour Of Cannes Home With ‘Seen at Cannes’

