This week, Kolkata airport conducted two hand-carriage exports of gems and jewellery from the city to Italy and Dubai.
While the second consignment was dispatched to Dubai on Wednesday night through the hand luggage of a representative from M Sashi Badalia & Sons Pvt Ltd, the first consignment was hand-carried in a personal baggage on Monday by Senco Gold MD and CEO Suvankar Sen to Milan for an exhibition.
“With clearance timelines now down to just two days, hand-carriage has become an efficient and reliable export option. It’s helping us meet tighter delivery schedules, keep our clients happier, and even cater to urgent or last-minute shipment. We will look at this model for other international markets as well,” said Golubhai Badalia, M Sashi Badalia & sons director and founder.
The export was accomplished through coordinated efforts of Customs authorities, Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company, and BVC Logistics. The initiative was supported by Shivaji H Dange, principal commissioner of customs, Kolkata, and Pankaj Parekh, regional chairman (eastern region), GJEPC.
Sen said: “We hope that 10% of exports from Kolkata will happen through hand-baggage avenue. It will boost jewellery export from the city in a big way.”
Among the major exporters of gems and jewellery in the city are Hasmukh Parekh Jewellers, Modern Impex, and Senco. Gems and jewellery export from Bengal stands at around Rs 12,000 crore — one of the highest in the country.