The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) participated in the high-level Indian business delegation led by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal to the United Kingdom from June 25-27 and Greece from June 29-30. The mission focused on strengthening trade partnerships, addressing market access barriers and identifying new opportunities for Indian gem and jewellery exporters across Europe.

During the UK visit, GJEPC Vice Chairman Shaunak Parikh represented the Council in business engagements centred on the recently concluded India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The Council highlighted the agreement's potential to improve India's competitiveness in the UK jewellery market and expand bilateral gem and jewellery trade. According to GJEPC, improved market access could increase India's gem and jewellery exports to the UK to around $2.5 billion while bilateral trade in the sector could reach nearly $7 billion.

The Council also advocated India's accession to the Vienna Convention on Hallmarking during the discussions. GJEPC stated that international recognition of BIS hallmarking would reduce the need for re-assaying and re-hallmarking in export markets, helping lower compliance costs and improve turnaround times, particularly for MSME exporters.

Following the UK programme, the delegation travelled to Athens, where GJEPC focused on positioning Greece as a gateway to Southern Europe. The Council participated in meetings with government representatives, financial institutions and industry stakeholders, including the India-Greece Business Forum organized by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Discussions covered opportunities to strengthen bilateral trade and investment while expanding commercial engagement in the gem and jewellery sector.

GJEPC said Greece's strategic location, maritime connectivity and access to the wider European Union market present long-term opportunities for Indian jewellery exporters. The visit follows the elevation of India-Greece relations to a Strategic Partnership in 2023 and the establishment of the India-Greece Business Council in 2025, aimed at strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.