India and the UAE are looking at ways to increase trade in value-added gold and gold products. UAE is one of the major suppliers of gold to India after Switzerland and New Delhi would like to encourage that trade even further with the UAE, said India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
India has given certain duty concessions on the import of gold from the UAE under a free trade agreement. There were certain issues with regard to operationalising those concessions which have been sorted out now, he said.
The trade pact, officially dubbed as CEPA (comprehensive economic partnership agreement) is in force since May 1 last year. India has agreed to concessional import duties on gold imports of up to 200 tonnes per year. The import duty in general on gold is 15 per cent.
Now this year, India hopes the UAE exporters would be able to ship the specified quantity of gold under the agreement so that the duty benefit can be enjoyed by the Indian gold jewellery sector.
The UAE is a major destination for India's gems and jewellery. "We are also looking at other ways to expand and engage our partnership on processing and working together on value addition in gold and gold products, which we will announce in due course," he told reporters.
Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished
