Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday asked the gem and jewellery industry to focus on areas like design, diversification of export product basket and lab-grown diamonds, with a view to boost outbound shipments and job creation.

He said that exports from the sector have increased to USD 23 billion during the April-October period of this fiscal.

“Focus on four points in the coming period. Good design should be patented; include new things such as pearls, platinum and fashion jewellery in the exports basket; increase collaboration with businesses of other countries for fusion jewellery; and (focus on) lab grown diamonds,” he said at the inauguration ceremony of Gems & Jewellery Manufacturing Association, 2021.