The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), in association with the Ahilyanagar Gold Jewellers Council and Gold Cluster, organised an IIJS Retailers' Connect and Export Awareness Seminar in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, on 29th September 2026. The event brought export guidance and B2B sourcing insights directly to a region long known for its skilled karigars and traditional jewellery manufacturing base.
A Recognised MSME Jewellery Cluster
Ahilyanagar was among the early regions in Maharashtra to be formally developed as an MSME Gold Jewellery Cluster under the Micro & Small Enterprises, Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP), reflecting its established manufacturing heritage. The seminar's dual format, a retailers' connect session alongside an export-focused briefing, was designed to help local jewellers tap both domestic B2B platforms and international trade opportunities.
Key Sessions and Export Benefits Covered
Naheed Sunke, Assistant Director, GJEPC, introduced IIJS Signature 2027 as a major B2B sourcing platform for jewellery designs, technology and business networking, encouraging Ahilyanagar jewellers to participate through an official delegation
Mithilesh Pandey, Senior Director, GJEPC, led the export awareness session, outlining opportunities for local manufacturers and retailers along with relevant government schemes and policy mechanisms supporting entry into international markets
Participants were briefed on export benefits under the DEH initiative and preferential access through India's free trade agreements, including the UAE CEPA, India-Australia ECTA and India-EFTA TEPA
The session also covered simplified procedures for courier-based e-commerce exports, collateral-free loans under PM Vishwakarma, and grants for Common Facility Centres (CFCs)
Other initiatives discussed included the Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC), exporter mentorship programmes such as Niryat Disha and Niryat Protsahan, showcasing opportunities through IJEX Dubai, access to the India Jewellery Park Mumbai (IJPM) ecosystem, and Parichay Cards for artisans
The Ahilyanagar seminar forms part of GJEPC's wider nationwide outreach, aimed at connecting regional manufacturing clusters with global market access, policy support, and upcoming B2B exhibition platforms.