The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council held a press conference at their Bharat Diamond Bourse office in Mumbai, today to introduce the newly elected Chairman of the Council Pramod Agarwal and the Vice chairman Colin Shah, who will take over responsibilities from the outgoing Chairman Praveenshankar Pandya and Vice-chairman Russell Mehta, respectively. The new members will hold office for the next 2 years.

Pramod Agarwal, visionary behind Derewala Group, with his expertise, passion and determination is constantly working towards fulfilling his dream of providing International quality products with emphasis on value for money. After having won encomiums across the globe for over two decades, he expanded the group’s business in the Indian market.

Besides being dedicatedly involved in the business and its operations, he spends his time working with jewellery trade associations for the overall benefit of the industry. He is the Chairman of Indian Institute of Gem and Jewellery, Jaipur (a project of GJEPC). He is also a Member of Committee of Administration – Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), Board of Director of All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF) and Executive Member of Jewellers Association, Jaipur.

Colin Shah is the Founder and Managing Director of Kama Schachter, one of largest and most modern jewellery manufacturers in Asia. Initiated into the diamond trade at the age of 17 with hands-on training in polished assortment, diamond manufacturing, and jewellery manufacturing, he is an entrepreneur who started own business at the age of 21, exporting diamonds to Japan and Gulf alongwith the local market.

“Me and my team would work closely with the industry and the government to give Indian gems and jewellery market a competitive edge in the world market. Currently, industry is in a state where it needs to be more organized and transparent in terms of doing business in order to achieve more dynamic role in our economy. My special emphasis would be to facilitate a stable taxation for diamond through presumptive taxation, reduction on GST rate for cut and polished diamonds and colour gemstones. GST rate on gold and silver too needs to be withdrawn for export purposes. Me and my team would also work towards exploring new resources of raw diamonds and colour gemstones while streamlining their consistent supply. Generic diamond promotion is a must for the industry. Hand-crafted jewellery industry, too, needs to be strengthened,” said Pramod Agarwal, newly-elected chairman for GJEPC.

The election process this time was entirely handled by the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the helm of the Ministry of Commerce, India. A dedicated software agency was hired by the DGFT to handle the e-voting process.