Mumbai News: Exporters Can Now Hand-Carry Gems And Jewellery Via New Facilitation Centre At CSMIA’s T2 Terminal
Mumbai: Exporters will now be allowed to hand-carry jewellery as the gem and jewellery export promotion council (GJEPC) initiated a facilitation centre at Mumbai Airport. The new facility to streamline export procedures for high-value gem and jewellery is said to benefit Mumbai, which accounts for the country’s 70% gems and jewellery export.
On April 24, The Free Press Journal was the first to report that Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) is set to roll out hand-carriage jewellery export operations. This was announced after the central board of indirect taxes and customs (CBIC) formalised the procedure, enabling import and export via personal carriage.
On Wednesday, GJEPC formally inaugurated the ‘jewellery hand carriage facilitation centre’ at CSMIA’s Terminal-2, in collaboration with Mumbai Customs. After engaging with the government, the council secured a dedicated space at the airport on a rental basis, which has now been notified as a customs area with Bharat Diamond Bourse appointed as a custodian.
The centre will now facilitate all types of exports and imports of jewellery through hand-carriage mode. The new facility is aimed at streamlining export procedures for high-value gem and jewellery shipments carried by hand, bringing greater transparency, faster clearance, and enhanced ease of doing business for exporters. The new facilitation centre will serve as a single-window facility supported by Mumbai Customs, CISF, police, and airport authorities.
Mumbai typically accounts for nearly 65% to 70% of the country’s exports, In the financial year 2024-25, gem and jewellery exports from the western region (Mumbai Port) totalled US $19,653.24 million, accounting for approximately 68% of India’s total gross gem and jewellery exports during the year. With nearly two-thirds of India’s gem and jewellery exports routed through Mumbai, the centre marks a major milestone in export infrastructure.
Personal carriage of gem and jewellery is permitted through select airports as specified in the Foreign Trade Policy. For exports, the facility is allowed at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Jaipur. For imports, personal carriage is permitted at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Jaipur. The personal hand carriage facility is now operational in Kolkata, Jaipur, Mumbai, and Delhi.
Kirit Bhansali, chairman of GJEPC, said, “The centre’s inauguration is a milestone in our ongoing efforts to boost ease of doing business for exporter members. Alongside the e-commerce export channel, hand carriage will prove especially beneficial for MSMEs and high-value shipments, especially to FTA partner nations such as UAE, Australia and UK FTA. It offers a faster, cost-effective, and more agile way to service international orders.”
The facilitation centre was inaugurated by member customs of CBIC Surjit Bhujbal, in the presence of principal chief commissioner Prachi Saroop, principal commissioner Alok Jha and other customs officials. SEEPZ development officer Dnyaneshwar Patil, and the leadership team of GJEPC were also present during the event.
Dnyaneshwar B. Patil, the development commissioner of SEEPZ-SEZ, said, “The centre is a timely and impactful initiative that will greatly benefit SEEPZ-based exporters. With SEEPZ contributing around 13% to India’s gem and jewellery exports, the availability of a dedicated hand carriage facility just minutes away will enable faster clearances, reduce logistical hurdles, and provide greater flexibility for companies handling high-value, urgent shipments.”
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