On the sidelines of India’s BRICS Chairship 2026 inter-ministerial meetings, Shri Yogendra Garg, Member (Customs), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), convened a meeting with representatives of the gems and jewellery trade, custodians and airlines in Jaipur on 11 August.
The meeting was attended by representatives of GJEPC’s Rajasthan Regional Committee with other trade representatives.
The meeting provided a platform for the trade to raise several issues aimed at making exports faster, simpler and more technology-driven. The trade sought the introduction of a Risk Management System – RMS for the gems and jewellery sector, introduction of ad-valorem duty drawback rates and customs procedures modelled on Passport Seva Kendras to enable seamless exports with minimal human intervention.
The trade also raised concerns around terminal charges and called for greater facilitation of courier-mode exports, including the provision of duty drawback through ECCS instead of ICEGATE. Representatives requested the inclusion of gems and jewellery in technology-enabled courier re-import facilitation announced by the Finance Minister in the Union Budget.
Other issues included the release of courier and postal route dwell-time and volume data to encourage exporters to use these channels for small-value parcels instead of cargo mode. The trade also sought clarification on the exportability of loose stones through courier mode, following a reference made by the Mumbai Air Cargo Postal Service Centre (APSC).
The meeting highlighted the need for a dedicated jewellery appraiser at the Delhi courier terminal. At present, an appraiser from the cargo terminal visits only twice a week for a few hours, resulting in delays of five to seven days.
The trade further requested a review or removal of the requirement for airlines to furnish a bond for carrying bonded cargo from remote ports such as Jaipur and Surat to onward gateway ports in Mumbai and Delhi. Allowing greater use of air movement could reduce transit time, costs and risks associated with road transportation.
Shri Garg took note of the suggestions and immediately sought status updates from the concerned officers at CBIC, ICEGATE and other agencies. He subsequently updated the trade on the issues and assured that appropriate action would be taken.
He also requested GJEPC to send all courier-mode related issues directly to him for immediate action, noting that the concerns raised were relevant to increasing the use of courier channels by exporters, in line with the Government’s vision for greater technology-enabled trade facilitation.
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