National News

GJEPC Leaders Tackle US Tariffs, Unveil Growth Roadmap at Surat Industry Meet

Key Stakeholders Unite to Address Trade Challenges and Explore New Opportunities for India’s Gem & Jewellery Sector

Published

1 year ago

April 25, 2025

On April 24, the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) led by Chairman Mr. Kirit Bhansali held a high-level industry interaction in Surat, bringing together major stakeholders to address current challenges, including the recent US tariffs, and to strategize for future growth.

Joining Mr. Bhansali were Mr. Saunak Parikh, Vice Chairman; Mr. Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director; and Mr. Jayanti Savaliya, Regional Chairman – Gujarat. They were welcomed by industry stalwarts including Mr. Govindbhai Dholakia (MP – Rajya Sabha and Chairman, Surat Diamond Bourse), Mr. Laljibhai Patel, Mr. Nagjibhai Sakariya, Mr. Vallabh Lakhani, and heads of associations representing natural and lab-grown diamonds and jewellery manufacturers.

A key focus of the meet was the impact of recent US import tariffs on Indian exports. Mr. Ray presented a detailed overview of the situation, while Mr. Savaliya shared positive updates on resolving Customs-related issues affecting the trade.

Emphasizing the city’s importance, Mr. Bhansali stated, “Surat is not just a city of diamonds; it is the pride of our industry.” He praised its critical role in the global supply chain and reaffirmed GJEPC’s commitment to supporting the region.

Mr. Dholakia applauded GJEPC for building trust between the industry and policymakers, while Mr. Parikh highlighted future opportunities. He suggested that India could benefit strategically from the shifting global dynamics caused by the US tariffs and identified silver jewellery as “the next big thing” for expansion. He also stressed the need to promote direct rough diamond trading in Surat.

The event concluded with a unified commitment to strengthening India’s position as a global leader in gems and jewellery, with Surat at the heart of that vision.

National News

IAGES Accredited Partner Directory Brings Verified Gold Businesses Together on One Trusted Platform

Hosting More than 700 Accredited Outlets Across 200+ cities, the IAGES Directory Serves as a Bridge Between Consumers Seeking Trustworthy Gold Transactions and Accredited businesses

Published

19 hours ago

July 13, 2026

JewelBuzz Spread The Buzz

The Accredited Partner Directory launched by the Indian Association for Gold Excellence and Standards (IAGES) in November, 2025 has gained significant momentum among consumers and gold businesses since its inception. This one-stop digital platform now hosts a growing network of over 700 IAGES partner outlets across 200 cities, allowing consumers to find verified, trusted jewellers nearest to them before they step out to buy or exchange gold.

An IAGES verified business follows a stringent code of conduct that mandates accountability, responsibility and ethical conduct across its entire value chain. IAGES’ Accredited Partner Directory offers consumers trust, confidence and peace of mind, allowing them to explore and choose these verified, third-party assessed gold jewellers nearest to them either by brand name, location, or category.

The accredited entities appearing in the directory include strong national, regional and city-based large, medium and small retailers. The directory not only includes verified gold jewellers, but also lists gold refiners, bullion traders, manufacturers and assaying and hallmarking centres and digital gold retailers.

Kaushlendra Sinha, CEO, IAGES, said:

“The growing list of partners in the IAGES Accredited Partner Directory reflects the gold industry’s readiness to adopt transparent and compliant business practices, building consumer confidence and trust while slowly formalising the gold ecosystem in India. We invite all gold businesses to come forward and join the movement to transform India’s gold industry, one accreditation at a time!”

IAGES is currently running a consumer awareness campaign – ‘Before you exchange or buy gold #PehlaCheckIAGES’ to spread the word about the importance of buying gold only from a verified, credible retailer. The successful campaign has reached 50 million+ consumers through online and offline mediums, while the IAGES website is seeing massive hits every day as consumers check the directory to verify a gold business.

Sumeet Deoda, Vice President – Marketing and Communication, IAGES said:

“Clearly, the IAGES Accredited Partner Directory has been much anticipated by consumers, gold jewellers and gold business entities alike! We are happy to finally share this growing database with the world even as we continue to work towards our goal of changing the gold-buying mindset in India as the first, crucial step towards formalising the industry,”