Exporters can now hand-carry jewellery in their bags which are meant for exports. The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council ( GJEPC), in collaboration with Mumbai Customs, has come up with a Jewellery Hand Carriage Facilitation Centre at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).
Recognising the potential of hand carriage for boosting gem and jewellery exports—especially from Mumbai, which typically accounts for nearly 65–70% of the country’s exports—GJEPC engaged with the government to come up with a facilitation centre.
Anticipating future clearance, the Council secured a dedicated space at the Mumbai airport on a rental basis and fully equipped it in advance. With the premises now notified as a customs area with Bharat Diamond Bourse appointed as a custodian, the Centre is fully operational—ready to facilitate round-the-clock hand carriage exports.
In FY 2024-25, gem and jewellery exports from the Western Region (Mumbai Port) totalled US$ 19,653.24 million, accounting for approximately 68% of India’s total gross gem and jewellery exports during the year.
The new dedicated facility is aimed at streamlining export procedures for high-value gem and jewellery shipments carried by hand, bringing greater transparency, faster clearance, and enhanced ease of doing business for exporters.
Kirit Bhansali, chairman, GJEPC commented, “Alongside the e-commerce export channel, hand carriage will prove especially beneficial for MSMEs and high-value shipments, especially to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partner nations such as UAE under CEPA, Australia under ECTA and UK FTA."
Dnyaneshwar B. Patil, Development Commissioner, SEEPZ-SEZ said“ With SEEPZ contributing a significant share (around 13%) to India’s gem and jewellery exports, the availability of a dedicated hand carriage facility just minutes away will enable faster clearances, reduce logistical hurdles, and provide greater flexibility for companies handling high-value, urgent shipments.”
The new facilitation centre will serve as a single-window facility supported by Mumbai Customs, CISF, police, and airport authorities.
Personal carriage of gem and jewellery is permitted through select airports as specified in the Foreign Trade Policy. For exports, the facility is allowed at nine locations: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Jaipur. For imports, personal carriage is permitted at seven locations: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Jaipur. At present, the personal hand carriage facility is operational in Kolkata, Jaipur, Mumbai, and Delhi.
The Council noted that this initiative is part of a broader rollout across nine key centres in India, designed to strengthen infrastructure for the gem and jewellery export sector.
Recognising the potential of hand carriage for boosting gem and jewellery exports—especially from Mumbai, which typically accounts for nearly 65–70% of the country’s exports—GJEPC engaged with the government to come up with a facilitation centre.
Anticipating future clearance, the Council secured a dedicated space at the Mumbai airport on a rental basis and fully equipped it in advance. With the premises now notified as a customs area with Bharat Diamond Bourse appointed as a custodian, the Centre is fully operational—ready to facilitate round-the-clock hand carriage exports.
In FY 2024-25, gem and jewellery exports from the Western Region (Mumbai Port) totalled US$ 19,653.24 million, accounting for approximately 68% of India’s total gross gem and jewellery exports during the year.
The new dedicated facility is aimed at streamlining export procedures for high-value gem and jewellery shipments carried by hand, bringing greater transparency, faster clearance, and enhanced ease of doing business for exporters.
Kirit Bhansali, chairman, GJEPC commented, “Alongside the e-commerce export channel, hand carriage will prove especially beneficial for MSMEs and high-value shipments, especially to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partner nations such as UAE under CEPA, Australia under ECTA and UK FTA."
Dnyaneshwar B. Patil, Development Commissioner, SEEPZ-SEZ said“ With SEEPZ contributing a significant share (around 13%) to India’s gem and jewellery exports, the availability of a dedicated hand carriage facility just minutes away will enable faster clearances, reduce logistical hurdles, and provide greater flexibility for companies handling high-value, urgent shipments.”
The new facilitation centre will serve as a single-window facility supported by Mumbai Customs, CISF, police, and airport authorities.
Personal carriage of gem and jewellery is permitted through select airports as specified in the Foreign Trade Policy. For exports, the facility is allowed at nine locations: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Jaipur. For imports, personal carriage is permitted at seven locations: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Jaipur. At present, the personal hand carriage facility is operational in Kolkata, Jaipur, Mumbai, and Delhi.
The Council noted that this initiative is part of a broader rollout across nine key centres in India, designed to strengthen infrastructure for the gem and jewellery export sector.
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