The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) is seeking government support to promote natural diamonds in international markets to protect jobs and exports. Chairman Vipul Shah has requested funding assistance and proposes the inclusion of Jewellery Parks in infrastructure lists. GJEPC is also focusing on creating an ecosystem for platinum and promoting tariff adjustments.

Limelight Diamonds has opened its first store in Chennai, its 23rd in India, as part of its expansion plan. The Mumbai-based lab-grown diamond brand aims to open seven more stores by year-end. The company notes a 15-20 per cent annual growth in the lab-grown diamond sector, driven by increased customer awareness and affordability.

Egypt is emerging as a key player in the African garment export market, achieving $2.27 billion in apparel exports during January–October 2024, a 17 per cent growth year-on-year.
The US, its largest market, imported $1.031 billion, accounting for 1.46 per cent of total US imports.
Egypt consistently ranks as the 16th-largest US supplier, maintaining steady market share growth over recent years.

The General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone has signed a $8.8-million contract with Turkiye’s Denim Rise for a garments project.
The facility is scheduled to open in 2025 second half.
The project marks the fourth Turkish investment in the Qantara West industrial zone, which is also set to host facilities for garment accessories, textile printing and dyeing, and bags and travel goods.

Surat’s diamond units are moving into jewellery manufacturing as global demand for natural diamonds drops. Rising demand for gold jewellery in India and abroad is pushing this shift. About 10% of these units have added jewellery making to their operations. They aim to maintain traditional diamond activities while adapting to changing market needs.

Quartz watches, once scorned by purists, are now being embraced by collectors due to advancements in design and technology. Brands like Grand Seiko, Citizen, and TAG Heuer are leading the way. Despite a past stigma from the quartz crisis, more enthusiasts appreciate their accuracy, affordability, and reliability. This shift highlights the evolving appreciation of quartz in the watch community.

The UK imported $675.455 million worth of garments from Cambodia in January-September 2024, with unisex garments dominating at 40.30 per cent ($272.241 million).
Knitwear accounted for 74.10 per cent ($500.491 million) of imports, and trousers & shorts led product types at 31.41 per cent.
Man-made fibre garments made up 49.41 per cent of imports, followed by cotton at 32.04 per cent.

Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) exports surged 12.34 per cent to $16.117 billion in July-November 2024, compared to $14.346 billion in the same period of 2023.
Woven apparel exports grew 12.48 per cent, outpacing knitwear’s 12.23 per cent rise.
Home textiles increased by 5.03 per cent, with RMG, accessories, and home textiles comprising 82.60 per cent of total exports.

Powerlook has inaugurated five new stores in Mumbai, Vadodara, Surat, and Bengaluru, aiming to increase its offline retail network to 15 stores and boost revenue by 50% to Rs 150 crore by March next year. With a total retail area of 30,000 sq ft, the expansion underscores the brand’s growth strategy and significant rise in sales.

Luxury brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton are witnessing increased sales in India’s non-metro cities due to e-commerce and travel retail expansion. High-end consumption patterns are emerging in tier 2 and 3 locations like Ajmer, Surat, and Kochi, demonstrating rising affluence and spending capacity among consumers.