The All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) will be holding the two-day “Manthan Gems & Jewellery Conclave 2018” in Mumbai from April 5 to brainstorm over setting the 2025 growth vision for this industry. The Conclave will feature a galaxy of speakers drawn from Government, Industry and even Cricket on topics pertaining to leadership, lasting brands, impact of disruptive innovation, changing dimension of women, entrepreneurship, Gen Next of jewellery, changing dimension of technology etc.

Describing the Conclave an annual platform for knowledge-sharing, Ashok Minawala, Past Chairman of the GJC — which was formerly known as All India Gems & Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF) –said here today that with this industry contributing to about 7% of India’s GDP, the Conclave was expected to help it reposition itself while also establishing its integrity. Once Manthan was over, a white paper would be prepared on Vision 2025 for the Gems & Jewellery Industry, he said.

Replying to questions, Minawala said the Gems & Jewellery Industry had no ‘issues’ with the Government and the present turnover of this industry is Rs 4.50 lakh crores with expectations of this figure rising to Rs 8 lakh crores  by 2025 while keeping in mind the huge G&J retail sector. “Very soon, we will be working under the Ministry of Commerce, which is monitoring the Conclave and may probably attend it. The Government may come up with a lot of programmes that they want to do with our industry,” he said, adding “This Council is confined to – and related to issues of – the domestic sector. We have invited the ROLEX (watch brand) chief to Manthan to tell us about how the luxury segment works.”

Highlighting the Conclave as a ‘one-of-its-kind’ initiative, he said Manthan is expected to open up new avenues into gold policy and get new ideas extracted for the benefit of the Gems & Jewellery industry.  “It will provide insights to jewelers in growing their diverse businesses in a sustainable manner, while implementing and successfully executing their strategies to earn multiple benefits,” he said.

To a question about the Conclave’s registration charges, he said “Knowledge shared free does not get evaluated in the right manner and the registration amount will go towards covering the costs of hosting over 1,000 participants expected from across the country.  Over 600 jewellers have registered so far with 300 registrations coming from the rural areas itself.”

Manoj Kumar Jha, Convenor of Manthan, said “This Conclave is about leadership in different ways, which involves support of 12 different industries for the gems & Jewellery industry to help develop it to a new level of business vision for 2025.”

Pointing out that there is a ‘vacuum’ in the Gems & Jewellery industry’s manufacturing, wholesale and retail sectors, GJC’s Saiyam Mehra said the 12 participating industries will share their knowledge at Manthan – which is expected to be a gamechanger – as jewellery comes from the retail outlets into the industry. “Ours is the oldest industry – over 2,000 years – which remains still unorganized with 25% to 30% of its players still “sitting on the fence” amidst the industry’s needs for technology,” he said, adding “A large portion of India, in fact about 70% of this business, remains in the rural market and is still working in ‘old’ systems.

The GJC, which is an apex and responsible body for the domestic Gems & Jewellery Industry since 2005, has been serving as a bridge between Government and trade while representing over 400,000 players comprising manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, distributors, laboratories, gemmologists, designers and allied services to the Indian gems and jewellery industry, which is a hand-crafted and labour-intensive one with over one crore-strong labour force – directly and indirectly – engaged in the jewellery manufacturing industry in the domestic sector.

The GJC also initiates various promotional activities to further retail businesses and manufacturing segments through various dedicated platforms designed for the purpose. With a view to develop skills, promote entrepreneuship and expand career opportunities, GJC undertakes various educational programmes for upgrading skills of artisans, retail segment etc including offering sponsorship to deserving design students and works closely with various gems and jewellery institutes to encourage talent and facilitates opening up of opportunities for an emerging workforce.