UAE receives first shipment of duty-free jewellery from India valued at $1 million

The companies importing the items saved $50,000 in tax

Sunjay Sudhir, Indian Ambassador to the UAE (2nd from left); Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary, Foreign Trade Affairs, Ministry Of Economy (3rd from left); Suoud Al Aqroubi, Director of International Co-operation, Federal Customs Authority (1st from right); and Indian businessman KP Salam, vice chairman of Malabar Gold & Diamonds (1st left). Pawan Singh / The NationalShow less

The UAE received its first duty-free imports from India on Tuesday containing gold and jewellery items valued at $1 million.

Just two days after the landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into effect, three packages containing gems, jewellery and gold arrived from India.

With the previous 5 per cent duty on the items now scrapped under the new agreement, the first customers to import duty-free goods saved about $50,000 in tax.

90 per cent of India’s export by volume has now become duty-free and I think today’s momentous occasion has started things off with a bang

Sunjay Sudhir,
Ambassador of India to the UAE

In recognition of the first goods to be imported under CEPA, Sunjay Sudhir, India's Ambassador to the UAE, and Juma Al Kait, assistant undersecretary of International Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Economy, handed the items to representatives from Malabar Gold and Diamonds, Siroya Jewellers and Jewel One Jewellers.

“The first consignment had an approximate value of about $1 million,” said Mr Sudhir.

“Prior to the signing of CEPA, the duty would have been charged at 5 per cent but today it was zero per cent.

“On day one of CEPA coming into force, 90 per cent of India’s export by volume has now become duty-free and I think today’s momentous occasion has started things off with a bang.”

Sunjay Sudhir, Indian Ambassador to UAE (centre left in light blue shirt) and Juma Mohammed Al Kait, assistant undersecretary, Foreign Trade Affairs, Ministry of Economy (centre right). Pawan Singh / The National

While the UAE received its first consignment of goods from India on Tuesday, a similar shipment was sent to India from the UAE under the agreement.

Bright future for trade and investment

Gold and jewellery constitutes a big portion of the bilateral trade between the UAE and India and both Mr Sudhir and Mr Al Kait said CEPA will help clean up the sector and enable better business.

“Between our two countries, gold, gems and jewellery are such important items,” said Mr Sudhir.

“For example, to go by our figures from last year where our financial year is from April to March, India imported about $14 billion worth of gold and unpolished gems and exported about $5 billion worth of jewellery.

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  The Gold Souk in Deira on the banks of the Dubai Creek. An agreement between the UAE and India is expected to boost trade in gold, benefitting jewellers and shoppers. All photos: Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Chandu Siroya, managing director of Siroya Jewellers, says the UAE India trade pact is a win-win for both countries.

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  Import duties have been removed for jewellery exported to the UAE from India.

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  India has agreed to a one per cent concession on duty on gold imports from the UAE for up to 120 tonnes of gold in the first year, rising to 200 tonnes in five years.

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  The UAE accounts for 80 per cent of India’s plain gold jewellery exports and 20 per cent of studded jewellery exports.

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  Some of the jewellery from India, Italy and Turkey on display at Siroya Jewellers in Dubai.

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  A jeweller examines a necklace at Siroya Jewellers in Dubai.

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  Dubai is set to become a major gateway for Indian jewellery to the world, because of the economic agreement.

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  The family-owned Siroya Jewellers is one of Dubai’s biggest wholesalers, supplying jewellery to more than 30 countries.

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  Gem and jewellery exports to the UAE declined to US$1.18 billion in 2020-2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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  With the duty waiver, India's Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council has said exports of gold from India to the UAE are expected to grow to US$10 billion in 2023.

“To incentivise trade by breaking down the duties and institutionalising mechanisms for easier import or export, I think things become much better for business.

“Now the governments have made their move, it is up to the private sector to capitalise on this agreement and boost trade and investment between both countries.”

The benefits of CEPA include enhanced market access, lower or eliminated tariff rules, simpler customs procedures, clear and transparent rules and rule-based competition.

By establishing wider CEPA networks with global counterparts, Mr Al Kait said it will reinforce the UAE’s position as a global hub for gold and diamonds.

“Gold and jewellery constitute a big portion of the bilateral trade between the UAE and India and through our CEPA networks [we are] committing ourselves as a country to respect all international rules when it comes to the goods delivery process,” he said.

“A few months ago we announced the [Good Delivery Standard] for gold.

“We think this process will help and protect traders and also clean the global markets from unwanted trade in this important sector.”

The Good Delivery Standard for gold will be a publicly-accessible system for monitoring imports and exports of gold and aims to bring the UAE's practices closer to those used by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The UAE and India signed the CEPA in February and it came into effect on May 1.

The pact is expected to boost non-oil trade between the two countries to $100bn in five years from $60bn currently, opening additional avenues of investment.

In line with the move, the Ministry of Economy unveiled a new web page dedicated to CEPA, which provides information to companies and investors in the UAE who wish to capitalise on the benefits provided by the agreement.