The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, the apex body of Gem & Jewellery trade in India, inaugurated the India Rough Gemstones Sourcing Show 2021 (IRGSS 2021) in the presence of Shri S. C. Agrawal, Commissioner of Customs, Jaipur along with GJEPC Regional Chairman (Rajasthan Region) Shri Nirmal Kumar Bardiya, and CoA members Shri Vijay Kedia, Shri Ram Babu Gupta, and Shri Badri Narayanan Gupta, amongst others. The show is held from 13th March 2021 to 19th April 2021 at Jaipur.

IRGSS 2021 is witnessing Rough Emerald supplier from Zambia and Rough Ruby supplier from Mozambique. The travel restrictions due to pandemic limited the manufacturing as Coloured Gemstone industry is largely import based with dependency on Raw material for manufacturing. The main objective of the show is to provide direct sourcing of rough gemstones by Indian gemstone manufacturers without having to travel to different mining countries.

Colin Shah, Chairman, GJEPC said, “Jaipur is the global hub for cutting and polishing of coloured gemstones. It processes more than 300 different varieties of precious and semi-precious gemstones which includes Emerald, Tanzanite, Morganite and many other gemstones. However, being an import-oriented industry, availability of good quality rough gemstones is a prerequisite for the sector. By organising India Rough Gemstones Sourcing Show, GJEPC is making sure that the export activities resume in full throttle as manufacturing activities are back to normal and there is ease in Covid Crisis. The aim is to give direct access of rough gemstones to manufacturers without having to travel to different mining countries for sourcing roughs.”

The second edition of IRGSS too is organised, following all the necessary Central government’s health departments and state Government’s safety guidelines laid for COVID-19 like Social Distancing, disinfection, compulsory wearing of masks etc.

GJEPC, the organisers of the show, has ensured not more than 20 visitors will be allowed to visit the show at a given point of time, to avoid large gathering.

As there are no gemstone mines in India, it has always been a challenge to get consistent and continuous supply of roughs for the Indian gem cutting and polishing industry. Shows like the IRGSS will ensure that the gemstone manufacturers get an opportunity to network and build relationship with miners from across the world. Thus, helping them to have continuous supply of roughs.