India’s Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, organized a focused outreach programme titled “Leveraging FTAs for the Gems & Jewellery Sector” in Jaipur on June 9, 2026, in partnership with the Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). The programme brought together exporters, manufacturers, MSMEs and other industry stakeholders to discuss opportunities arising from India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and ways to increase utilization of preferential market access provisions.

According to the Department of Commerce, the workshop forms part of the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure that exporters, particularly MSMEs and cluster-based enterprises, are able to benefit from market access opportunities created through India’s new-generation FTAs. The Department highlighted India’s export performance, noting that total exports nearly doubled over the past 12 years, reaching a record $ 863 billion in FY2025–26, compared with $ 468 billion in FY2014-15. Merchandise exports accounted for $ 442 billion, while services exports stood at $ 421 billion.

Officials stated that India’s FTAs have expanded in scope in recent years, covering products, services, investment, standards and trade facilitation. The gems and jewellery sector was identified as a key beneficiary of these agreements. The Department noted that India’s FTA partner countries collectively import more than $ 55 billion worth of jewellery annually. India’s current share of these imports stands at approximately $ 8 billion, indicating significant export growth potential.

Rajasthan was highlighted as a strategically positioned state for capturing these opportunities. The state accounts for 97% of India’s coloured gemstone exports and maintains a significant presence in silver and imitation jewellery manufacturing. Addressing participants, Saket Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, 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 utilise them.”

The programme aligns with the government’s broader export growth strategy and its objective of achieving $ 2 trillion in exports by 2030. The Department of Commerce stated that it will continue conducting similar outreach programmes across key export clusters to increase awareness of FTA-related opportunities among industry stakeholders.