India exports gems and jewellery to the US, Hong Kong, UAE, UK, Belgium, Israel, Thailand, Japan, Singapore and other countries. Come next week, a customer from anywhere in the world can order diamonds and jewellery from manufacturers in Surat and have it delivered at their doorstep, with all the guarantees in place via e-commerce and transportation company FedEx Corporation.
The door-to-door sale from Gujarat has been facilitated by the Gem & Jewellery Export Council of India (GJEPC), the apex body to promote exports of gems and jewellery in India, that has partnered with the American multinational. To begin with, it would launch the pilot project across Gujarat and gradually source from other centres in the country, a team from FedEx said.
The experiment, if successful, will increase the buyer base of the manufacturers and do away with layers between a customer and a seller in the international market, say experts. The decision to partner with FedEx was taken at a webinar held Friday by the GJEPC Gujarat Regional Office in Surat with over 200 diamond and jewellery businessmen and retailers across the state to understand the challenges and the way forward to increase exports.
At a webinar, the GJEPC Gujarat Regional Chairman Vijay Mangukiya introduced the FedEx services to the attendees. He also assured members that GJEPC is determined to help each individual company reach their export targets and provide full support to cultivate new export avenues.
Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished
