Question : WORLD GOLD COUNCIL VISION

(a) whether the World Gold Council Vision, 2020 has projected that Indian gold industry will transform the country into the world jeweller by increasing gold jewellery exports five fold and doubling employment in the sector;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Vision has also advised India to create a Gold tourism circuit in the country to attract foreign as well as domestic customers for handicrafts gold jewellery;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to boost the production and export of handicrafts jewellery?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a): World Gold Council has not presented any Paper/Report to the Government with regard to gold jewellery exports.

(b) to (d) Do not arise.

(e) With a view to promote the Gems and Jewellery sector including handicrafts jewellery, Government has taken a number of steps such as providing financial assistance for participation in international fairs, organizing buyer-seller meets etc. under Market Development Assistance (MDA) and Market Access Initiative (MAI) Schemes of the Department of Commerce. Government has also announced a number of measures in the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2009-14 to promote export of Gems and Jewellery products such as increasing the limit of personal carriage of Gems & Jewellery products in case of participation in overseas exhibitions and export promotion tours etc.