(a) whether the Government had constituted a Committee to draft guidelines for forming domestic council for Gems and Jewellery industry;
(b) if so, the details of the mandate given to the said Committee;
(c) the details of the manner in which the Government is planning to boost domestic as well as international markets of India’s precious stones; and
(d) the details of benefits/ encouragement being considered by the Government to extend the same to the domestic and jewellery sector?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)
(a) & (b) An Ad-hoc National Committee of Domestic Council for Gems and Jewellery consisting 14 Members representing various associations of Gems and Jewellery Sector has been constituted to draft Memorandum and Article of Association and other Rules/Bye-laws of the Domestic Council.
(c) & (d) The government is supporting the process of setting up of Domestic Council for Gems and Jewellery, to encourage and boost domestic gems and jewellery sector. It is envisaged that the domestic industry would be benefited from such a representative body which would be the forum for highlighting the issues and concerns of the industry that require redressal through policy measures. Further, with a view to strengthen the Gems & Jewellery industry in the country, the Government has taken a number of steps such as establishment of Special Notified Zone (SNZ); setting up of Common Facility Centres for gem and jewellery sector; announcement of separate ITC HS Code for lab-grown diamonds; and providing financial assistance for participation in international fairs, organizing buyer-seller meets, creation of export related infrastructure, etc. under various schemes of the Department of Commerce to boost the industry.
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