logo
Good news for exporters, jewellery hand carriage facilitation centre opened at Terminal 2 of Mumbai international airport

Good news for exporters, jewellery hand carriage facilitation centre opened at Terminal 2 of Mumbai international airport

Time of India6 days ago
Mumbai: In a move set to significantly enhance India's gem and jewellery export infrastructure, the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), in collaboration with Mumbai Customs, inaugurated the Jewellery Hand Carriage Facilitation Centre at Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Wednesday.
Recognising the strategic importance of enabling seamless hand carriage, GJEPC secured and equipped a dedicated space at the airport. With the premises now officially notified as a customs area and Bharat Diamond Bourse appointed as custodian, the centre is fully operational, offering 24x7 services for jewellery hand carriage exports and imports.
The launch of this dedicated facility follows a push by the GJEPC to address logistical and regulatory challenges associated with high-value, hand-carried gem and jewellery consignments.
Mumbai, which accounts for nearly 65%–70% of India's gem and jewellery exports, saw shipments worth $19.65 billion from the western region in 2024–25.
You Can Also Check:
Mumbai AQI
|
Weather in Mumbai
|
Bank Holidays in Mumbai
|
Public Holidays in Mumbai
Ashok Gajera, managing director of Laxmi Diamond, one of the largest export houses, said, "The new centre provides a single-window clearance system with integrated support from Mumbai Customs, CISF, police, and airport authorities. It will streamline high-value exports, reduce paperwork, and significantly cut turnaround time, offering exporters both transparency and operational ease."
Gajera explained that earlier when there were orders from clients, jewellery or samples would have to be exported, and the businessman would fly out later once the jewellery reached the destination. This, he said, was not only a "time-consuming affair" but also a "tedious one".
GJEPC chairman Kirit Bhansali said, "This milestone is part of the council's wider commitment to ease of doing business. Alongside the e-commerce channel, hand carriage will prove vital for MSMEs and for high-value shipments, especially to FTA partner nations, such as UAE under CEPA, Australia under ECTA, and the UK.
It's faster, more cost-effective, and flexible — ideal for urgent global orders."
Personal carriage of jewellery for export is currently permitted at nine locations under India's Foreign Trade Policy — Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Jaipur. Imports are allowed at seven airports. However, fully operational hand carriage centres are presently available only in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Jaipur. GJEPC noted that this facility is part of a broader rollout across nine Indian cities, in alignment with the govt's thrust on improving export competitiveness and simplifying procedures.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

India and UK sign free trade agreement, PM Modi says farmers, MSMEs will benefit
India and UK sign free trade agreement, PM Modi says farmers, MSMEs will benefit

Scroll.in

time25 minutes ago

  • Scroll.in

India and UK sign free trade agreement, PM Modi says farmers, MSMEs will benefit

India and the United Kingdom on Thursday signed a Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement. The free trade agreement was signed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and his British counterpart Jonanthan Reynolds during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United Kingdom. 'Today marks a historic day in our bilateral relations,' Modi said in a press statement beside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer after the signing. He said that the agreement aimed to benefit Indian farmers, the micro, small and medium enterprises sector, footwear and jewellery exports, as well as the seafood and engineering goods sectors. Modi also said that British medical devices and aerospace parts would be more easily sold in India. Starmer, on his part, said that the trade deal would help British workers in cutting-edge manufacturing, and would also benefit whiskey distillers across Scotland and the service sector in London, Manchester and Leeds. The UK prime minister said that the agreement was 'the biggest and most economically significant' trade deal the United Kingdom has made since Brexit – when Britain exited the European Union in 2016. The UK government said that the trade deal was set to increase bilateral trade between the two countries by nearly 39% in the long run, The Indian Express reported. This would be equivalent to $34 billion a year compared with the projected 2040 levels of trade in the absence of an agreement, currently at $21 billion annually. In his statement, Modi also thanked Starmer for his support after the Pahalgam terror attack. 'We are united in the belief that there is no place for double standards in the fight against terrorism,' the Indian prime minister said. The terror attack at Baisaran near Pahalgam town in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 left 26 persons dead and 16 injured. The terrorists targeted tourists after asking their names to ascertain their religion, the police said. All but three of those killed were Hindu. 'We also agree that the forces which espouse extremist ideologies should not be allowed to misuse democratic freedoms,' Modi added. 'Those who misuse democratic freedoms to undermine democracy itself must be held to account.' The Indian prime minister also said that 'today's era demands development, not expansionism'. New Delhi and Britain had announced the free trade agreement in May after more than three years and 14 rounds of negotiations. With the agreement, India opens its doors to high-end British cars and whisky in a phased manner. The agreement ensures comprehensive market access for goods across all sectors, covering all of India's export interests, The Indian Express reported. India's Commerce and Industry Ministry had earlier said that the country would benefit from tariff elimination on approximately 99% of tariff lines, covering nearly 100% of trade value.

Foreign tourist cleans up garbage near Kangra waterfall as Indian visitors look on
Foreign tourist cleans up garbage near Kangra waterfall as Indian visitors look on

Mint

time25 minutes ago

  • Mint

Foreign tourist cleans up garbage near Kangra waterfall as Indian visitors look on

A video of a foreign tourist picking up plastic wrappers and other litter near a waterfall in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district has gone viral on social media. Since being shared on X, the clip has garnered nearly 2 million views. In the video, the foreign national is seen walking toward the waterfall and collecting plastic waste scattered among the rocks, while several Indian tourists sit nearby without intervening. He is then seen disposing of the trash in a dustbin. 'I sit up here and watch and ask people to pick them up. I do that! I have no problem cleaning here,' the tourist says in the video. The video has sparked a debate on social media about the civic sense of Indian tourists. The X user who shared the footage said, 'It's Shameful that a foreign tourist is more concerned about nature's beauty while local tourists keep shamelessly littering such stunning places. No government or administration is to be blamed — it's the people who need to change if we ever want a clean country.' Here are some comments posted by X users on the video: 'What is it with so many Indians are littering? How can one say they are proud of their country, whilst they treat their county as a public landfill site.' 'Bow your head in shame Indians. Your lack of civility just shows how less you love your country.' 'We demand heavens from government, but lack the basic civic sense!!!' 'Worldwide #Indians are known to be #LitterLoutsOn 15th Aug, Modi must challenge the people of nation from REDFORT to clean the country by not littering instead of his usual Zumla.' 'Absolutely shameful. Until people change their mindset, no amount of rules or governance can keep our country clean.' 'Hv said it many times. Need a generational shift in the mindset. Teach your children that it is bad. I hv seen people telling their kids to throw trash out of the car. Civic sense is zero amongst us. (sic)' 'There's a reason Indian tourists are often shamed and looked down upon. It's not just to do with racism but also our pathetic behaviour and 'chalta hai' attitude.'

India, UK set wide-ranging strategic course with Vision 2035 roadmap
India, UK set wide-ranging strategic course with Vision 2035 roadmap

Mint

time25 minutes ago

  • Mint

India, UK set wide-ranging strategic course with Vision 2035 roadmap

New Delhi: India and the UK have adopted a wide-ranging strategic roadmap, titled India-UK Vision 2035, laying the foundation for a deeper partnership across trade, technology, defence, climate and education over the next decade. The agreement was endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer during their meeting in London on Thursday, the same day the two countries signed their long-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The Vision 2035 document reflects an effort by both governments to anchor the bilateral partnership in strategic outcomes, going beyond short-term commercial goals. The two countries, which elevated ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2021, have agreed to push forward collaborations that will create jobs, boost innovation, enable climate action, and promote a fair, rules-based international order. Significantly, the vision document places the just-signed trade deal—formally known as the comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA)—at the heart of future growth plans. It commits both governments to ensure its implementation through dedicated mechanisms like joint economic and trade committee (JETCO) and advancing discussions on a bilateral investment treaty (BIT), as per the Vision 2035 document released by the UK government on Thursday. The document also outlines new joint frameworks to push cooperation in priority sectors, including clean energy, semiconductors, green finance, biotech, defence technologies, and life sciences. A key highlight is the technology security initiative, which will drive innovation in next-gen areas such as AI, telecom, critical minerals, quantum computing and advanced materials. In defence, the two sides have agreed on a 10-year industrial roadmap, and deeper collaboration in areas like jet engine technologies, maritime security, underwater systems and direct energy weapons. A joint mechanism will monitor its implementation. India-UK FTA: From whisky to British cars — here's what gets cheaper after trade dealIndia-UK FTA: From whisky to British cars — here's what gets cheaper after trade deal Notably, the roadmap emphasises joint research and manufacturing, echoing industry views that the FTA must enable India's defence industrial base rather than just expand market access. Climate and sustainability are another major plank. The countries have committed to mobilising green finance, expanding collaboration in offshore wind and nuclear technologies, and building joint supply chains in green goods. The two sides will work through platforms like the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. In education, the UK will encourage the setting up of campuses by leading universities in India, and vice versa. A joint Green Skills Partnership will promote climate-linked job creation and bridge skill gaps. The two sides also reaffirmed mutual recognition of qualifications and will deepen cooperation through an annual ministerial dialogue. The agreement comes amid shifting geopolitical alignments and a global reordering of supply chains. Officials said the roadmap reflects a maturing relationship that is increasingly driven by shared long-term interests. 'We are preparing our two countries for a BRISK partnership of Business, Research, Innovation, Science and Knowledge,' the document stated. While Vision 2035 is broad in scope, it includes concrete and time-bound commitments, with annual reviews by India's External Affairs Minister and the UK Foreign Secretary. This signals intent to turn vision into verifiable progress, at a time when both nations seek to amplify their global role and respond to overlapping challenges in trade, security and sustainability. 'The timing of the document—alongside the FTA—also indicates that India and the UK are betting on long-term alignment, even as short-term political and economic considerations remain in play,' said Dattesh Parulekar, assistant professor of International Relations at Goa University.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store