India's Gem And Jewellery Trade Set To Benefit As Mumbai International Airport To Allow Hand-Carriage Jewellery Export Operations

Mumbai: Mumbai International Airport will allow hand-carriage jewellery export operations starting from May 1. This decision is said to mark a major milestone for India’s gem and jewellery trade.

Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) is set to roll out hand-carriage jewellery export operations after the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) formalised the procedure on March 28, enabling import and export via personal carriage.

Following CBIC’s circular, a mock drill was conducted on April 24, with collaborative efforts from Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB), BVC, Precious Cargo Customs Clearance Centre (PCCCC), Airport Customs, and the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) of the Ministry of Commerce. The drill, overseen by additional commissioner of Customs PCCCC Roopesh Sukumaran, simulated a passenger export scenario with GJEPC secretariat playing the role of the exporter.

Kirit Bhansali, chairman of GJEPC, said, “With the launch of hand‑carriage jewellery exports from Mumbai Airport on 1st May 2025, we are ushering in a new era for India’s gem and jewellery trade. This initiative not only simplifies logistics for our members, particularly emerging exporters, but also reinforces India’s standing as the premier global jewellery hub. We remain committed to advocating innovative solutions that drive growth and opportunity across our industry, especially MSMEs.”

GJEPC said that its sustained advocacy has been instrumental in achieving this breakthrough. It believes that the upcoming advisory from DG Systems will pave the way for Mumbai Customs to issue the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for hand carry exports.

GJEPC said that the initiative will benefit especially emerging exporters, offering them flexibility to personally carry jewellery to global markets. It has already set up a dedicated airport office to assist members with hand carry procedures.