National News

THE JEWELLERY DIVISION, INDIA-IBJA

Dedicated to the welfare and upliftment of the small and medium jewellery players

Published

2 years ago

July 23, 2024

Dr. Chetan Kumar Mehta, President of the newly created Jewellery Division, India, IBJA spoke to JEWELBUZZ on its objectives, priorities and the roadmap to ensure a bright future for the small and medium jewellery segment. Given under are his comments:

The Jewellery Division, India – a new arm of IBJA – has been created with the express purpose of working for the welfare and upliftment of the small and medium level players in the jewellery industry. IBJA has in place a focused and structured approach for the bullion sector; it is the small and medium jewellers who need handholding, mentoring and guidance.

We will all work together to address various issues: GST, PMLA and other issues of compliance, taxation etc. Also, we will focus greatly on education, training and skill upgradation. We will ensure that critical enablers for success in the current business ecosystem, like digitalization of operations, technology upgradation in manufacturing, marketing, harnessing social media etc. are incorporated in the businesses of the small and medium level jewellers.

We will work closely with small, medium retailers and provide them with tools for growth. And, more importantly, instill in them the confidence to grow from a single store to multi-store chains.

Working closely with these jewellers will help us understand the challenges and pain points; this will be communicated to the government and bureaucracy, which in turn will help in framing policies that contribute to ease of doing business for the small and medium level jewellers.

In order to streamline operations and reach out to maximum players, we will be creating North, South, West and East zones, each with a zonal head. As President – Jewellery Division, India I am confident that collectively we will work together as a team with passion and dedication, and ensure a bright future for the small and medium jewellery segment.

National News

Belgian Consul General H. E. Mr. Pierre Stverlynck Graces BDB Annual Day

Published

12 hours ago

October 19, 2026

JewelBuzz Spread The Buzz

Event marks 42 years of Incorporation and 16 years of Operations
Recently-appointed Consul-General’s first visit to the Bourse helps strengthen a century-old bond
Long service awards presented to outstanding employees

Bharat Diamond Bourse today marked 42 years of incorporation and 16 years since the commencement of operations at the BDB Complex in BKC with a special programme graced by H. E. Pierre Stverlynck – Consul General of Belgium in Mumbai as Chief Guest and a number of leading diamantaires.

The function was organised to celebrate the crucial roles played both by the visionaries who conceptualised the need for a centralised infrastructure to boost the diamond trade over four decades ago, and the employees who have run the daily operations in a highly efficient and professional manner.

In his Welcome Address, BDB Vice President, Mehul Shah explained the significance of celebrating twin milestones – 42 years of incorporation and 16 years of operations. He said:

“BDB began with a vision and is now the world’s largest operational bourse, and a symbol of India’s leadership in the diamond world and excellence in every aspect of operations.”

He added, “It is significant that the Consul General of Belgium is with us on this special occasion. Antwerp and Mumbai have a very close relationship, going back more than 100 years. Today the two cities have bonds based on trust, trade and friendship. We are committed to strengthening this bond over the next century as well.”

Congratulating the awardees he said that members may be the owners, but it is the staff who run the complex and have helped build it as the “best of the best” centres for diamonds. “Personal integrity combined with hi-tech surveillance have made BDB one of the safest places in the world,” he explained, and urged all present never to forget that “it is the soldiers who fight and win the wars.” Mr Shah offered compliments to all the awardees and congratulated Team BDB.

Speaking on the occasion, Anoop Mehta, President BDB, welcomed Mr Stverlynck who has recently assumed charge as Consul General of Belgium in Mumbai.

“We are sure that this will be the first of many visits to our Bourse,” he said, noting that the Consulate is the nearest neighbour of the complex.

“The BDB leadership has always enjoyed a very special relationship with the Belgian consulate,” he added, “built on the longstanding bonds between the diamond industry in our two countries.”

Mr Mehta said it was heartening that so many employees had remained loyal to the BDB for multiple years, and urged all gathered to reach out through their department heads to put forward suggestions for further changes and improvements

Mr Stverlynck, who was on his first visit to the Bourse after assuming charge as Consul General, said he was extremely impressed with the facilities available for exporters within the complex. Assuring the trade of cooperation and support, he said he was happy to be personally present to celebrate such a remarkable institution as BDB that has become a key pillar of the India diamond industry.

Congratulating the leadership for its role in steering the bourse, as well as those employees who had received long service awards, Mr. Stverlynck said:

“The consolidated knowledge and experience of so many from those at the top to a number of others who contributed in various ways, is an asset to the industry.”

Special long service awards were presented to employees who completed special milestones during the year. These included 30-year, 25-, 15-, 10- and 5-year service awards to a few employees.