Smith recalls a bit of wisdom the industry leader, who died last week, shared at a diamond conference years ago.
GJEPC Honors Top Indian Companies
The organization’s recently held India Gems & Jewellery Awards recognize top performers in the country’s gem and jewelry sector.

Mumbai--The Gem and Jewelry Export Promotion Council recently honored a number of Indian companies and individuals with awards.
The organization’s India Gems & Jewellery Awards recognize top performers in the country’s gem and jewellery sector, honoring them for their “exemplary performance on key parameters like growth, export excellence, marketing initiatives, innovation, value additions and investment in (research and development), among other attributes.”
This year’s awards ceremony was held at the Hotel Trident in Mumbai on March 18. It was the organization’s 43rd year of honoring companies with the awards, and also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the GJEPC.
Sevantilal Premchand Shah, founding partner of Venus Jewel, won the Lifetime Achievement Award and designer Sunita Shekhawat won the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
The organization also awarded diamond manufacturer Kiran Gems and its group companies with six IGJA awards.
Kiran won “Highest Exporter-Cut & Polished Diamonds (Exports above Rs. 3000 Crores)” for the ninth year in a row. Kiran also won the “Highest Taxpayer Company-(Diamond),” ‘Best in Gems & Jewellery E-commerce,” and “Best Growing Company of the Year (Large).
Meanwhile, Kiran Exports HK Ltd. was awarded the “Highest Gems and Jewellery Sales (Importer)-Far East” and Kiran Jewelry won “Most Innovative Company.”
Mumbai-based Laxmi Diamond took home three awards--Cut & Polished Diamonds (Large)-Exports between $76.5 million (INR 5 billion) and $152.9 million (INR 10 billion); Highest Exporter (Cut & Polished Diamonds)-Exports between $305.8 million (INR 20 billion) and $458.8 million (INR 30 billion); and Most Socially Responsible.
Hari Krishna Group also received awards from the GJEPC, including Hari Krishna Exports winning for “Highest Exports in Cut and Polished Diamond (Large)” and H. K. Designs winning for “Precious Metal Jewellery-Studded (Medium),” giving the company a total of 17 awards from the GJEPC over 14 years.
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