Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has urged the government to provide duty exemption on the import of gold refineries and machinery used in the jewelery industry.

BAJUS leaders made the call during a meeting with Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun at his office on Wednesday.

During the meeting, BAJUS leaders proposed a total of eight demands for the well-being of the jewelery industry.

The demands are:

1. Importing machinery used in the jewelery industry is taxed at a high rate now. We urge the government to take necessary initiatives for duty exemption on the import of gold refineries and machinery used in the jewelry industry. This move aims to encourage new factory setups and prioritise the jewelry industry as a key sector.

2. The allotment of land on a priority basis for setting up jewelery industry factories in Special Economic Zones.

3. To ensure the quality of gold and consumer rights, we propose to set up Gold Tasting Labs and Hallmark Centers in every district of the country under the supervision of BAJUS and BSTI.

4. The demand for diamond is increasing day by day. Therefore, we propose to set up modern diamond testing labs in all districts under the supervision of BAJUS and BSTI.

5. We propose to form a joint monitoring cell consisting of BAJUS and BSTI for regular supervision of the gold testing labs and hallmark centers.

6. We propose to take regular monitoring measures jointly by BAJUS and BSTI so that no jeweler gets an opportunity to use weighing machines illegally.

7. We want regular weighing machine testing measures jointly by BAJUS and BSTI.

8. Institutions interested in setting up gold testing labs at the private level are proposed to take measures to get approval as soon as possible following the guidelines of BSTI and BAJUS.

BDST: 1523 HRS, JAN 17, 2024
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