India boosts gems & jewellery exports with FTA  outreach programme

New Delhi: In a strong push to expand India’s global trade footprint, the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, on Thursday organised a focused outreach programme on “Leveraging FTAs for the Gems & Jewellery Sector” in partnership with the Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

The initiative brought together exporters, manufacturers, MSMEs and industry stakeholders to explore how India’s expanding Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) can unlock new export opportunities in one of the country’s most globally competitive sectors.

Officials highlighted that India’s total exports have nearly doubled over the past decade, reaching a record USD 863 billion in FY 2025–26, compared to USD 468 billion in FY 2014–15. Of this, merchandise exports stood at USD 442 billion, while services exports reached USD 421 billion, underscoring the resilience of India’s trade ecosystem.

Gems and jewellery has emerged as a key beneficiary under India’s newer, more comprehensive FTAs. With partner countries importing over USD 55 billion worth of jewellery annually, India currently holds only about USD 8 billion in market share—signalling significant growth potential.

Rajasthan, contributing nearly 97% of India’s coloured gemstone exports and a strong base in silver and imitation jewellery, was identified as a high-potential cluster for export expansion.

Addressing participants, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri Saket Kumar, said: “India’s FTAs are strategic instruments for expanding export opportunities. Our objective is to ensure that every exporter, including MSMEs and cluster-based enterprises, is equipped to fully utilise them.”

He added that the government is committed to ensuring wider awareness and utilisation of FTAs to support India’s target of USD 2 trillion in exports by 2030.

The programme aligns with the vision of Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, who has emphasised strengthening competitiveness, boosting manufacturing and expanding market access under the broader Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap.