GJEPC Names Vipul Shah as Chairman

RAPAPORT... India's diamond industry should pivot toward more expensive stones, said Vipul Shah on Tuesday, following his appointment as chairman of the country's Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).Shah - who had been serving as the trade body's vice chairman, as well as CEO of diamond manufacturer Asian Star - will take over in September for a two-year term, the GJEPC announced. He was previously chairman from 2012 to 2015 and now succeeds Colin Shah, who had been in office since 2020.The GJEPC selects a vice chairman every two years, and that person automatically becomes chairman two years later. Kirit Bhansali of Smital Gems will be the new vice chairman, the group said, meaning he is slated to take the helm in September 2024."I feel privileged and energized to return to the role of GJEPC chairman in these exciting times," declared Vipul Shah. Commenting on strategy in the diamond market, he said the Indian sector should "move up the value chain by focusing on larger, high-value goods" while continuing to contribute toward generic marketing initiatives. "[The] GJEPC will broaden its horizons with a larger, globally conspicuous presence via shows like [the International Gem & Jewellery Show (IGJS)] Dubai, and India pavilions at all the major international trade fairs," he added. "We must drive the narrative through innovation and thoughtful and timely action."Among the new chairman's past achievements was organizing the 2014 World Diamond Conference, which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended.Image: Vipul Shah. (GJEPC)