(PRESS RELEASE) Jewelry Park, Mumbai, an initiative by the government to take India’s jewelry manufacturing and trade to a new level, was inaugurated with the foundation stone laying ceremony by Shri Suresh Prabhu (Hon. Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Govt. of India); Shri Devendra Fadnavis (Hon. Chief Minister of Maharashtra); Shri Subhash Desai (Hon. Minister of Industries and Mining, Govt. of Maharashtra) in the presence of Smt. Rupa Dutta (Economic Advisor, Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry), Shri Raj Purohit (BJP leader), Shri Pramod Kumar Agrawal (Chairman, GJEPC), Shri Colin Shah, vice chairman, GJEPC along with the Committee of Administration of GJEPC.
The 21-acre land identified for the project is at Plot No. OS-12 EL, MIDC – TTC, Electronic Zone, Behind Nelco, Mahape, Electronic Zone, MIDC Industrial Area, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400710. India Jewelry Park, Mumbai, is a project of the Gem & Jewelry Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). GJEPC will be entrusted to construct the park as a special purpose vehicle (SPV). India Jewelry Park is estimated to generate employment of 100,000 (1lakh) workers, enhance manufacturing, investment, export growth and overall economic development of Maharashtra & India. The government has proposed housing for karighars/ craftsmen/ workers of the first-of-its-kind India Jewelry Park, Mumbai, under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The housing initiative is in line with jewelry manufacturing zones created in countries such as China, Hong Kong and Turkey.
Shri Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry & Civil Aviation, Govt. of India, said, “As the saying goes ‘Dhaal dhal par sone ki chidiya’ – gold, gems and jewelry is part of our life, society and culture. We had taken several steps to enhance the stature of the gems and jewelry industry as well as increase the number of jobs created. The bhoomipujan of the India Jewelry Park today is symbolic of the direction of the future economic march of our country. We have to inject new energy into enterprise and business in order to generate more jobs and prosperity for the common man. We want to double our merchandise exports from USD 500 bn to USD 1 trillion and the gem & jewelry business will have a significant role to play in this endeavour. The gem & jewelry sector has created 50 lakh jobs on its own. If we get more diamonds as raw materials, we can process more. We are working on a strategy where we are targeting countries such as Russia and get all their diamonds, process and export them back to their country. On the jewelry side, every village in India has a jeweler and we have a flourishing domestic jewelry trade. We have connected to184 countries to promote all exports including indigenous gem & jewelry sector. India Jewelry Park will create 1 lakh jobs and indirectly create multiples of the same. We are in the process of creating a Domestic Gem & jewelry Council through a democratic process. We want to double exports from USD 40 bn and generate similar amount of business from domestic sales. We shall make sure that the jewelry Park project progresses fast and becomes as good and as well managed as the Bharat Diamond Bourse. For the first time ever in the country, the Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry is also the nodal Ministry for Internal Trade thanks to our Prime Minister’s vision. Enhancing domestic trade and international trade will be the backbone of our economy.”
Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis said, “India Jewelry Park, Mumbai, is a dream come true not just for GJEPC but also for Maharashtra Government too. When this idea was first mooted at a function organized by the Council, I had said that Maharashtra will welcome you and fulfil all your requirements. Gem & jewelry karighars/ craftsmen have to work under challenging circumstances including security concerns. I am hopeful that India Jewelry Park, Mumbai, will be one-of-its-kind and the best and most beautiful jewelry park in the world. Since India is showing the world the future direction in terms of gem & jewelry exports business, then the jewelry Park, Mumbai also has to be the best in the world. We promised a single-window clearance and we have delivered it as businessmen only need to go to one office of MIDC to get all permissions. If we are able to give jobs to 1 lakh people through India Jewelry Park, Mumbai, then we need to arrange for basic amenities such as housing. Navi Mumbai has the maximum number of ongoing projects under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. We shall ensure that karighars will get housing very close to the jewelry Park and create a whole new ecosystem. We have decided that by 2025 we shall make Maharashtra a trillion dollar (sub-national) economy and the gem & jewelry industry will be a significant part of this journey. The gem & jewelry industry’s investments of Rs. 14,000+ crore in the jewelry Park, the exports and value addition generated will contribute to our trillion dollar economy dream. Your target of achieving USD 75 bn of exports in gem & jewelry is low and it should be increased to USD 100 bn. If you keep your target high, it will also help us in achieving our dream. I had urged the Council to start the first-of-its-kind Gems & jewelry University in Maharashtra. My offer stands and I want the Council to help realize the dream of the first-ever Gems & jewelry University in Mumbai or Navi Mumbai or in Maharashtra. As per the new private university norms, you can also start one campus right here in the jewelry Park and plan an integrated ecosystem here. The hallmark of our Government is achieving scale and skill in every sector including the gem & jewelry sector.”
Shri Pramod Kumar Agrawal, chairman, GJEPC, said, “The gem & jewelry industry is thankful to the Hon’ble Union Minister Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation Shri Suresh Prabhu and the Govt. of Maharashtra under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis for all the support extended to set up India Jewelry Park, Mumbai. India Jewelry Park, Mumbai will provide effective support to jewelry manufacturers/traders who are interested to establish, expand or invest in the state of Maharashtra and initiate new business or strengthen their existing business. It is benchmarked with the best-in-class jewelry Parks created in countries such as China, Turkey, Italy & Thailand. India Jewelry Park, Mumbai will contribute to the economic development of both Maharashtra and India by drawing in investment from across India and abroad. It will have 2,400 units of all categories including large, medium and small players as well as international units catering to different countries. We request for maximum support from both State and Central government. We have already got a sanction of Rs. 50 crores from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry under the 12th five-year plan for jewelry Park which we would request the Government to increase its contribution to Rs. 250 crores in way of creation of Common Facility Center inside the Park, effluent treatment plants, karighar training centre, design development centre, and technology development centre. We also seek single-window clearances and Workforce Welfare Assistance benefits for karighars of the India Jewelry Park, Mumbai.”
India Jewelry Park will be an integrated Gem & jewelry industrial park with manufacturing units, commercial areas, residences for industrial workers, and commercial support services. It will have Common Infrastructure like compound wall with entrance / Exit Gates, Internal roads with Street Lighting, SDF Buildings for Manufacturing Units, drainage, Rain Water Harvesting and water supply, electricity supply including captive power plant, effluent treatment Plant, Water Treatment Plant, High Security System and Access Control, Bonded Storage, Disaster Management System and Infrastructure, telecommunication lines, solar energy, etc.
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A comfortable working environment will increase the productivity of the people working at the jewelry trade. Self-content units will make the work place healthier, which will reduce the health issues of the workers and thus the medical expenses. Karighars can easily focus on quality, design, (Indian concept/ culture based designs) etc., which will support to convert the jewelry Park to one of the biggest hubs for B2B and B2C business in future. The Park will contain three type of units (500 sq. ft, 1000 sq.ft and >1000 sq. ft) for facilitate all category beneficiaries.
State-of-the-art machinery and infrastructure will help to reduce gold loss ratio from 10% to 3%. The gold dust can be recovered easily by suction system & drainage systems which is the biggest benefit for the Artisans. India can aim to become Zero loss manufacturers. This can save up to 40 tonnes of gold annually.
GJEPC is expecting support for infrastructure development from the ministry of MSME and the state Government for developing small factory cubicles with all facilities for the karighars and their vendors at the Park. GJEPC has asked that Maharashtra Govt. should create a one window clearance scheme for setting up the units inside the Park.
GJEPC has sought the help of either the State or Central Government to provide security personnel for the Park free of cost because of the high value content, as the Central government has provided customs personal without any charges at the Bharat Diamond Bourse.
Special Incentives by Cabinet Sub Committee for industry, under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra have the powers to sanction customized package of incentives and even offer special or Extra Incentives for prestigious Mega or Ultra Mega Projects on a case to case basis. Under such powers the project should be given the status of Ultra Mega Project. Also, as per the GJEPC, all incentives detailed under Group “D” of Package Scheme of Incentives – 2013 by Government of Maharashtra Industries, Energy and Labour Department should be made applicable for MSMEs and LSI occupying the units inside the India Jewelry Park, Mumbai.
GJEPC has sought waiver of Stamp Duty for the Units getting registered under IJPM including stamp duty for properties pledged for term loans for setting up the units should be provided. All Common Facilities like CFC, Design Centre, Effluent Treatment Plant, Recycling Plant should be free from FSI calculation, as per the GJEPC. Workforce Welfare Assistance to workers may be provided by Govt. of Maharashtra to the workers recruited by units under IJPM for a period of 3 years. After commencement of operations of unit, under IJPM Training Assistance of Rs. 3,000/- per year per employee for initial 3 year period will be given by Government of Maharashtra to garment units. The authorities will be contacted for customs clearance in time bound manner and for relaxation from checking to be given by granting “Star Export House” status. A Liasoning Officer from MAITRI cell should be appointed for this work.
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These facilities will help the industry to invest freely at the park and also market the park abroad in UAE, Turkey, Italy, etc. also to bring FDI. India’s gem & jewelry exports account for a staggering USD 40 billion and the industry contributes 14% to India’s total merchandise exports. The industry employs 5 million (50 lakh) workforce across the sector currently.
