In a move welcomed by India’s gems and jewellery sector, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has permitted the import and export of gems and jewellery parcels for personal carriage through Ahmedabad Airport, expanding the list of authorised airports under the Handbook of Procedures (HBP) 2023.
The amendment was notified through Public Notice No. 33/2025-26, issued by Director General of Foreign Trade Ajay Srivastav, invoking powers under paras 1.03 and 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023. The change takes immediate effect.
The DGFT has amended Paras 4.87(a) and 4.88 of the HBP, which govern the personal carriage of gems and jewellery parcels by foreign-bound passengers, Indian importers, and foreign nationals.
The earlier list of airports — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Jaipur — has now been expanded by adding Ahmedabad.
This means export parcels carried personally by foreign-bound passengers from EOU/SEZ units and DTA firms are now allowed via Ahmedabad, subject to Customs-prescribed procedures. Import parcels carried personally by Indian importers or foreign nationals into EOUs/SEZs and DTA units can also now enter through Ahmedabad Airport. Clearance procedures remain unchanged, following normal customs clearance norms, with mandatory examination by Customs authorities.
The DGFT clarified that all export proceeds must continue to be realised through regular banking channels.
Ahmedabad and the surrounding Gujarat region host several small and medium jewellery exporters, diamond polishing units, and SEZ-linked traders. Until now, they were required to route personal-carried parcels through Mumbai or other metros, adding to logistics time and cost.
The inclusion of Ahmedabad Airport improves ease of doing business for exporters and importers in Gujarat; reduces transit time for high-value consignments; strengthens the logistics ecosystem for the gems and jewellery sector in western India. Supports India’s FDI-driven diamond and jewellery export hubs, particularly in Surat, which benefits from proximity.
Industry bodies had long called for this expansion, citing increased cargo capacity, improved customs infrastructure, and rising passenger traffic at Ahmedabad Airport.
The Public Notice explicitly states, “Import and export of gems and jewellery parcels for personal carriage are now also permitted through Ahmedabad Airport.”
The amendment forms part of the government’s broader efforts to streamline foreign trade processes and modernise logistics frameworks under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023.
With Ahmedabad now authorised for the movement of personally-carried gems and jewellery parcels, the DGFT has delivered a significant regulatory easing for exporters and importers in Gujarat. The move aligns with ongoing policy reforms to decentralise trade gateways and enhance operational convenience for the sector, which remains one of India’s highest foreign exchange earners.
Notification Details
Public Notice No. 33/2025-2026
Date: 01/12/2025
