Surat diamantiares oppose GJEPCs move to form new western regional committee

SURAT: Even as the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has put on hold its the decision to form a new western regional committee by excluding the existing state committee on, the diamantaires in Surat and other centres are not convinced.
On May 18, GJEPC had floated a proposal to form the new committee consisting of four states namely Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Madhya Pradesh and discontinuing the existing.
However, the diamantiares from Gujarat, having offices in Mumbai and manufacturing units in Surat and other parts, opposed move at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held in Mumbai on Tuesday. They said the committee is needed to effectively represent industry issues to the government.
Dinesh Navadia, president, Surat Diamond Association (SDA), said, "Gujarat regional committee is in existence from the last 25 years and we do not want to merge it in the western regional committee. Gujarat will not have a say in the western committee as it will be represented by other states as well"
Navadia added, "There are many functionaries in the GJEPC who are holding key posts since many years. It is high time that the GJEPC encourages young leaders from the diamond industry to take charge of the council and day-to-day affairs."
Sources said that the Committee of Administration (COA) stands expired on May 31, 2015, which means currently there is no board of directors. However, the members of the council had proposed to nominate three to four members as the temporary COA members, till the date of elections are decided by the Ministry of Commerce and the new COA is appointed.
Vipul Shah, outgoing chairman of GJEPC said, "Gujarat regional committee will stay and the decision to form western regional committee has been put off. All said and done, Gujarat and Mumbai are the two big centres of diamonds"
Asked about the election of COA, Shah said, "We are yet to get a go-ahead from the ministry of commerce to hold the election for the new COA."