National News
GJEPC announces Kirit Bhansali as Chairman, Shaunak Parikh as Vice Chairman and new Committee of Administration
Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), the country’s apex nodal trade body, announced the appointment of Kirit Bhansali as Chairman; Shaunak Parikh as Vice Chairman and announced the constitution of new Committee of Administration (COA) after the completion of the COA Election 2024.
Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, GJEPC, said, “Our vision is to drive transformative growth for India’s gem and jewellery industry through strategic initiatives, innovative projects, and collaborative efforts. From advancing flagship projects like the India Jewellery Park in Mumbai and the Gem Bourse in Jaipur to expanding our global footprint with initiatives like Saudijex in Saudi Arabia and IJEX Dubai, we aim to position India as a global leader in technology, design, and manufacturing. Together, we will strive to achieve the ambitious export target of USD 100 billion by 2047, aligning with our Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of a Viksit Bharat.”
Bhansali further added, “We aim to sustain India’s global leadership, capitalize on domestic market potential, and advocate for favorable policies while continuing to support our artisans. To boost exports from the sector and support India’s economic growth, GJEPC has identified 17 key clusters based on their size, potential, and strategic location. By nurturing these clusters, we aim to develop them into thriving export hubs.”
Shaunak Parikh, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, said, “I sincerely thank all the industry members for entrusting me with this responsibility and giving me the opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of our remarkable gem and jewellery sector. This is a crucial time for the industry, and the challenges before us demand bold vision and decisive action. It is imperative to focus on category promotion across all verticals, infrastructure development, skill enhancement, and adopting global standards to ensure our industry remains competitive on the world stage. The Council will continue to collaborate closely with the government to shape policies that not only drive growth but also address the pressing concerns of our exporters in an ever-evolving global market.”
List of CoA Member(s) 2024
| Sr. No | Name of the Directors | Designation |
| 1 | Kirit Bhansali | Chairperson |
| 2 | Shaunak Parikh | Vice-Chairperson |
| 3 | Smt. Khushboo Ranawat | Regional Chairperson – Western Region |
| 4 | Pankaj Parekh | Regional Chairperson – Eastern Region |
| 5 | Antar Pal Singh | Regional Chairperson – Northern Region |
| 6 | Jayantibhai N. Savaliya | Regional Chairperson – Gujarat Region |
| 7 | Mahendra Kumar Tayal | Regional Chairperson – Southern Region |
| 8 | Ajesh Mehta | CoA Member |
| 9 | Nirav Bhansali | CoA Member |
| 10 | Nilesh Kothari | CoA Member |
| 11 | Anil Virani | CoA Member |
| 12 | Pankaj Shah | CoA Member |
| 13 | Anil Sankhwal | CoA Member |
| 14 | Smit Patel | CoA Member |
| 15 | Krishna Behari Goyal | CoA Member |
| 16 | Manish Jiwani | CoA Member |
| 17 | Anoop Mehta | CoA Member |
| 18 | Ashish Borda | CoA Member |
| 19 | Dwarka Prasad Khandelwal | CoA Member |
| 20 | K. Srinivasan | CoA Member |
| 21 | Mansukhlal Kothari | CoA Member |
| Govt. Nominee | ||
| 1 | Shri Siddharth Mahajan – Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India | Govt. Nominee Director |
Profiles of Chairman and Vice Chairman
Kirit A. Bhansali, Chairman, GJPEC
Kirit A. Bhansali, is a well-known personality in the Indian diamond and jewellery industry. He is a partner in Smital Gems, a leading diamond manufacturing company based in Mumbai. With his extensive experience in the field, he has played a significant role in promoting and developing the Indian gem and jewellery industry. He is the Chairman of India Jewellery Park Mumbai (IJPM) and is a Committee Member of the Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB). In the past he has also served as the chairman of the Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery (IIGJ). Apart from his business activities, Bhansali is actively involved in various socio-political and educational initiatives. Through his leadership and vision, Bhansali has contributed significantly to the growth and development of the Indian diamond and jewellery industry.
Shaunak Jitendra Parikh, Vice Chairman, GJEPC
Shaunak Jitendra Parikh is 3rd generation entrepreneur and is one of the Directors of Mahendra Brothers Group of Companies who are into business of the manufacturing and marketing of diamonds and diamond jewellery. Parikh holds a degree of Bachelors of Commerce from University of Mumbai and has more than 30 years of experience in the industry. After successfully establishing manufacturing and marketing of diamond jewellery for over a decade, Parikh took charge of Group’s finances about 15 years back. He simultaneously completed an executive diploma in corporate finance from London Business School. A people’s man, and with a flair for creativity, he plays a vital role in running company’s overall business, group strategic planning & decision making, managing group finances and new business opportunities. Shaunak Parikh has previously held several key positions in GJEPC, including serving as the Convener of the Banking, Insurance, and Taxation Committee, as well as the Convener of International Exhibitions.
National News
Malabar Gold & Diamonds Supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Appeal On Gold; Submits Proposal To Strengthen Gold Monetisation Scheme
Encourages Recycling, Reuse, and Circulation Of Existing Gold Within India As A Responsible National Priority
Malabar Gold & Diamonds has submitted a comprehensive proposal to the Government of India recommending strategic enhancements to the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS), expressing its wholehearted support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal on responsible gold consumption and the need to strengthen India’s economic resilience through better utilisation of domestic gold resources.
The proposal, submitted by M.P. Ahammad, Chairman, Malabar Group, to Hon’ble Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and Hon’ble Commerce & Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, outlines practical measures aimed at increasing public participation in GMS, mobilising idle gold into the formal economy, and encouraging greater recycling, reuse, and circulation of existing gold within India.
India imports nearly 700–800 tonnes of gold annually, resulting in significant foreign exchange outflows and pressure on the current account deficit. At the same time, Indian households and institutions are estimated to hold nearly 25,000–35,000 tonnes of gold in the form of jewellery, coins and bars, much of which remains economically idle.
Malabar Gold & Diamonds stated that greater focus on recycling, exchange, reuse, and monetisation of existing domestic gold can play an important role in reducing import dependency, limiting dollar outflow, and strengthening the Indian economy over the long term.
Commenting on the proposal, M.P. Ahammad, Chairman, Malabar Group, said:

“India possesses one of the world’s largest privately held gold reserves while continuing to rely significantly on imports to meet domestic demand. We wholeheartedly support the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s appeal and believe that encouraging responsible utilisation, recycling, and circulation of existing gold within the country is an important national priority. With appropriate policy support and active integration of the organised jewellery sector, the Gold Monetisation Scheme can emerge as a highly effective mechanism for mobilising idle gold into the formal economy.”
The proposal notes that while the Gold Monetisation Scheme was introduced to reduce import dependence and monetise idle domestic gold holdings, public participation remained limited due to longer lock-in periods, lower perceived returns, limited redemption flexibility, and procedural challenges.
To improve effectiveness and adoption of the scheme, Malabar Gold & Diamonds has recommended:
- Integration of organised jewellers into the GMS framework under regulatory oversight
- Reduction in minimum deposit quantity from 10 grams to 1 gram
- Flexible redemption options in either gold weight or cash
- Lower lock-in periods and improved liquidity options
- Simplified Aadhaar-based e-KYC procedures
- Customer incentives through jeweller participation, including loyalty-linked benefits
- Improved transparency in purity testing, valuation, and refining
- Consideration of GST waiver on gold brought back into the formal system
- Alignment of GMS with Gold Metal Loan (GML) frameworks for better utilisation within the industry
The proposal also recommends a jeweller-assisted collection and facilitation framework operating under bank and regulatory supervision, with digital tracking systems and transparent processing mechanisms to improve customer confidence and operational efficiency.
According to the proposal, mobilisation of even 1–2% of India’s domestic gold holdings could potentially release nearly 600–700 tonnes of gold into circulation, equivalent to a substantial portion of the country’s annual gold import demand.
Malabar Gold & Diamonds believes that encouraging recycling, reuse, exchange, and monetisation of existing gold within India can become a meaningful economic lever for the country. The company stated that a stronger and more accessible Gold Monetisation Scheme can help reduce import dependence, lower foreign exchange outflows, improve circulation of domestic gold resources, and contribute towards building a more resilient and self-reliant economy in line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision.
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