Kolkata, July 15: Kolkata marked a historic milestone on Tuesday with the flagging off of the first jewellery export consignment to the United Kingdom under the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The ceremony was held at the Kolkata Air Cargo Complex, signalling a new chapter for India’s gem and jewellery exports.
The event was attended by West Bengal Industry and Commerce Minister Tapas Roy, Yogendra Garg (IRS), Member, Customs, Chandra Kant Mishra (ITS), Additional Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Dr. Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner for East and Northeast India, Pankaj Parekh, Regional Chairman (Eastern Region), GJEPC, and Dr. Debjani Roy, Executive Director, SHEFEXIL.
The Kolkata flag-off is part of a nationwide initiative across Delhi, Mumbai, Surat, Jaipur and Chennai, celebrating India’s first jewellery exports to the UK under the landmark trade agreement.
Six leading exporters from Kolkata—Jais Jewellery Pvt. Ltd., Modern Impex, L. Gopal & Sons (Jewellers), AB Jewels Pvt. Ltd., JS Jewels Private Limited, and Hasmukh Parekh Jewellers—are part of the inaugural US$10 million nationwide shipment, comprising gold, diamond, silver and platinum jewellery.
Speaking on the occasion, GJEPC Chairman Kirit Bhansali described the India–UK CETA as a transformative agreement for the Indian gem and jewellery industry. He said the pact grants zero-duty access to the UK market from the day it comes into force, removing import tariffs of up to 4% and giving Indian exporters a significant competitive edge in the UK’s US$4 billion jewellery import market.
Bhansali expressed confidence that India’s gem and jewellery exports to the UK would rise from approximately US$754 million to nearly US$2.5 billion over the next three years, creating new opportunities for exporters, MSMEs, artisans, manufacturers and jewellery designers.
Pankaj Parekh, Regional Chairman (Eastern Region), GJEPC, said Kolkata’s rich legacy of jewellery craftsmanship and manufacturing excellence places the city in a strong position to benefit from the agreement. He added that the CETA would open new global opportunities for artisans and exporters while strengthening India’s reputation as a trusted source of world-class jewellery.
Industry leaders believe the India–UK CETA will significantly benefit West Bengal’s gem and jewellery sector by improving market access, promoting value-added manufacturing, generating employment, encouraging skill development and enhancing the participation of artisans, MSMEs and exporters.
The dispatch of the first export consignment from Kolkata highlights the city’s growing contribution to India’s gem and jewellery exports and reinforces its role in driving the country’s global trade ambitions under the India–UK CETA.
