SEEPZ-SEZ marked a milestone today with the inauguration of the New Enterprises & Service Tower (NEST-2), signalling a new phase of redevelopment and future-ready infrastructure for India’s gem and jewellery export ecosystem. The ceremony was graced by Chief Guest,  Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, and attended by Honoured Guest,  Vimal Anand, IRS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India,  Dnyaneshwar B. Patil, Zonal Development Commissioner, SEEPZ, Smt. Mital Hiremath, Jt. Development Commissioner, Pune Cluster,  Mayur R. Mankar, Jt. Development Commissioner, SEEPZ (Mumbai),  Shaunak Parikh, Vice Chairman, GJEPC;  Colin Shah, Head of the Working Group, Bharat Ratnam Mega CFC  Adil Kotwal, President, SGJMA,  Vijay Gujarathi, Chairman, SEEMA, and other senior government officials and industry leaders.

In his address, Piyush Goyal said “SEEPZ is at the cusp of major change, supported by lower power tariffs, waste-to-wealth gains, digital processes and strengthened governance systems. He emphasised that true progress rests on collective integrity and transparent practices, urging industry members to actively support honest systems and responsible use of every plot and unit within the zone.

He reiterated the Government’s commitment to Jan Vishwas — trust-based governance — and to simplifying laws, reducing compliances and enhancing ease of doing business. He encouraged industry to think bigger and adopt future-ready systems that reflect the aspirations of a modern, self-confident India.

“With new FTAs, modernised infrastructure and a vision for a $30–35 trillion economy by 2047, India is moving at unprecedented speed,” he said. “SEEPZ must match this pace. Government is your partner — help us help you grow.”

Dnyaneshwar B. Patil, IAS, Zonal Development Commissioner, SEEPZ, described the day as a proud moment for the entire SEEPZ fraternity. He noted that Shri Piyush Goyal’s guidance has strengthened every step of SEEPZ’s transformation, particularly after the success of NEXT-2. He shared that work on NEXT-3 — a project three times larger and designed to global standards — is already in progress and targeted for completion within two years.

He highlighted SEEPZ’s progress across governance, revenue generation and digital transformation. Revenues have risen from Rs.86 crore to a projected Rs.120 crore this year, while waste-to-wealth initiatives have grown sharply from Rs.80 lakh to Rs.11.66 crore. With India’s first in-house SEZ ERP, 24/7 Customs operations, and the country’s first Foreign Post Office for e-commerce exports inside an SEZ, SEEPZ continues to close the gap with international benchmarks. He also emphasised the need for Global FSI approval from MIDC, describing it as a crucial next step to realise SEEPZ’s full potential as a world-class export hub.

Addressing the gathering, Adil Kotwal, President, SGJMA, said “ NEXT-2 represents renewed purpose and India’s rising stature in the global jewellery sector. He noted that SEEPZ exports have grown from Rs.23,000 crore to nearly Rs.30,000 crore between April and November — a 30% surge despite global headwinds. He underlined industry expectations from ongoing bilateral trade negotiations and expressed hope that agreements with countries such as the US, Thailand and Vietnam will support a level playing field.

Kotwal further added, “We have the talent, the manufacturing strength, and decades of global trust — and now, with the Government’s support, the ecosystem to scale new heights. SEEPZ stands committed to adopting new technologies, strengthening compliance, investing in advanced manufacturing and upholding the highest standards of sustainability and global competitiveness. SEEPZ is not just a manufacturing zone — it is an ecosystem of over one lakh people. As we prepare for the next phase of redevelopment, our key request is the creation of a single-window clearance system within SEEPZ by 2026.”

The inauguration closed with a reaffirmation of SEEPZ’s commitment to building a competitive, transparent and innovation-driven export hub that strengthens India’s global leadership in jewellery manufacturing.